Written by guest author Dr. Quan Zeng, Plant Pathologist, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Recently, I had the opportunity to join Gordon Merrick, Senior Policy & Programs Manager at the Organic Farming Research Foundation, in a meeting with staff from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s office, the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. I was proud to be able to share my research on organic methods of fighting fire blight, a devastating bacterial disease that affects apple and pear orchards, to help illustrate how federal research funding is vital for both organic and conventional agriculture systems.
As a plant pathologist, my work focuses on bacterial plant pathogens, specifically Erwinia amylovora, the cause of fire blight. This disease poses a serious threat to apple and pear production in the United States. It primarily spreads through flowers and shoots, and can even be transported throughout the tree through their xylem, which generally results in death of the tree. This can lead to orchard-wide epidemics, already resulting in over $100 million of economic damage annually. Climate change has brought its own complications to this disease, with its warming temperatures and wetter weather.
Organic producers face an even greater challenge, as they cannot use antibiotics like streptomycin after they were banned in organic production in 2014 due to concerns of antibiotic resistance and ecological impact. While this shift was necessary to protect the effectiveness of commercially important antibiotics, it created a pressing need for alternative methods of control. Through projects awarded funding through the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), I have been collaborating with researchers and growers to develop organic-compliant strategies to manage fire blight.
One promising solution involves using a naturally occurring yeast, Aureobasidium pullulans, to protect apple flowers by inducing the plant’s natural defenses. This biologically-based control method has shown effectiveness comparable to antibiotics for controlling fire blight, though there are some complications relating to fruit russeting, a purely cosmetic issue, from treated blooms.
To refine and improve these control methods, my team is working with six organic orchards across Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island. Together, we’re testing new yeast strains and integrated management strategies to maximize disease control while minimizing side effects like russeting. This hands-on collaboration with farmers is a central pillar of OREI and is critical to developing successful, practical, and impactful solutions.
The progress we’ve made in controlling fire blight would not be possible without support from USDA research programs like OREI and the Organic Transitions Program (ORG). These programs provide essential funding for research that studies the issues and extension efforts to operationalize the research, ultimately helping all growers address complex challenges like fire blight. Although organic farmers cannot use antibiotics, many conventional operations are also facing the reality of antibiotic resistance and are increasingly turning to organic controls like my research.
During our meeting with Rep. DeLauro’s staff, I was inspired by the Congresswoman’s commitment to advancing agricultural research. She understands that investing in science is key to improving agricultural sustainability and productivity. Her support and advocacy for programs like OREI and ORG are crucial to allow research and extension programs to continue to answer farmers’ questions and support their operations with sound science.
I am excited to be able to collaborate with the Organic Farming Research Foundation in meeting with Rep. DeLauro’s office to talk about these important issues. Collaborations like this, between researchers, policymakers, and organizations, are essential to addressing the challenges facing our food systems. By ensuring continued investment in research, we can equip farmers with the tools they need to protect their orchards, feed their communities, and sustain their livelihoods.
Use Your Voice
Interested in sharing your research with legislators and advocating for continued investment in organic research? Watch a recording of OFRF’s free workshop, Communicating with Legislators. This educational workshop is designed to equip researchers within the organic farming community with the tools and resources they need to effectively engage with and educate policymakers about the impact of their work.