An NRC committee will be appointed to develop a strategic plan to use science and technology to respond to Citrus Greening and other diseases that threaten the Florida citrus industry. The plan will define key objectives for finding and implementing a solution to citrus greening, including major basic and applied research themes, technology development and distribution strategies, approaches for controlling the spread of the disease and sustaining the industry, and options for strengthening the ability of the industry to respond in a comprehensive way to citrus greening and future disease threats. In developing the plan, the committee will examine: --The current citrus disease situation in Florida and the status of public and private efforts to address citrus greening and other diseases, including lessons learned; --The capacity of the industry to mobilize a scientifically-based response to current disease threats and to translate scientific advances into products and services for the protection of Florida citrus industry in the short and long term; --The relationship of the industry to public, academic, and private research, and to regulatory and funding organizations at the state and federal level, with respect to controlling citrus greening and developing a comprehensive solution to citrus greening and other diseases. In developing the plan, the committee will take note of ongoing research and technology development and commercialization activities underway across the United States, in the federal research laboratories, and in foreign research institutions, and identify opportunities where collaboration might be timely or cost-effective or where research activities could be combined (control or regulatory activities, for example) to achieve synergy. The committee¿s report will explore alternate models for organizing research, development, and implementation of scientific and technological tools for fighting the current (and future) disease problems, relative to the industry's strengths and sphere of influence. Recognizing the urgency of the current problem of citrus greening, the committee¿s plan will highlight activities that could improve the ability to respond to citrus greening by filling critical gaps in knowledge or improving the capacity to implement innovations or control the disease. The report will estimate of the cost, difficulty, and timeframe for completing key objectives of the strategic plan.This project is sponsored by the Florida Department of Citrus.The approximate start date for the project is May 10, 2009. A report will be issued at the end of the project in approximately 9 months.