About the Event
Discover the joint assembly of the VIII IRCHLB and XXIV IOCV, their missions, and global history.
About the Event
Brazil, the world's largest producer of oranges and the leading exporter of orange juice, will host the XXIV Conference of the International Organization of Citrus Virologists (IOCV) and the VIII International Research Conference on Huanglongbing (IRCHLB) from October 25 to 29, 2027, in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Recognized as the leading global forums in their respective fields, these conferences will bring together researchers, scientists, citrus growers, representatives of the citrus industry, and plant health authorities from around the world to exchange knowledge and discuss solutions to the most pressing challenges affecting citrus health worldwide.
Held jointly, the conferences will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the latest scientific advances and strengthen international collaboration in addressing the major phytosanitary challenges affecting citrus production worldwide, particularly Huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive citrus disease.
With nearly half of the commercial sweet orange trees in the Brazilian Citrus Belt – covering parts of the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais – affected by HLB in 2025, disease incidence continues to increase, although at a slower pace than in recent years, posing significant challenges for both citrus growers and the citrus industry.
By bringing together experts from different disciplines and countries, the conference will provide an exceptional platform for networking across the citrus value chain, fostering the exchange of knowledge, the development of new collaborations, and the advancement of research to support a more sustainable and resilient citrus industry in the face of HLB and other citrus diseases.
Mission & Objectives
The conferences reinforce the international commitment to scientific research, innovation, and the development of collaborative solutions for the future of global citrus production.
History & Previous Editions
The International Organization of Citrus Virologists (IOCV) has a long-standing tradition of promoting research and scientific collaboration on graft-transmissible citrus diseases, while the International Research Conference on Huanglongbing (IRCHLB) is recognized as the world's leading conference dedicated exclusively to Huanglongbing (HLB), the most devastating disease affecting citrus production worldwide.
VII IRCHLB
Riverside, USA
VI IRCHLB
Riverside, USA
V IRCHLB
Orlando, USA
IV IRCHLB
Orlando, USA
III IRCHLB
Orlando, USA
II IRCHLB
Orlando, USA
I IRCHLB
Orlando, USA
XXIII IOCV Conference
Mildura, Australia
XXII IOCV Conference
Virtual Conference
XXI IOCV Conference
Riverside, USA
XX IOCV Conference
Chongqing, China
XIX IOCV Conference
Skukuza, South Africa
XVIII IOCV Conference
Campinas, Brazil
XVII IOCV Conference
Adana, Türkiye
XVI IOCV Conference
Monterrey, Mexico
XV IOCV Conference
Paphos, Cyprus
XIV IOCV Conference
Campinas, Brazil
XIII IOCV Conference
Fuzhou, China
XII IOCV Conference
New Delhi, India
XI IOCV Conference
Orlando, USA
X IOCV Conference
Valencia, Spain
IX IOCV Conference
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
VIII IOCV Conference
Mildura, Australia
VII IOCV Conference
Athens, Greece
VI IOCV Conference
Mbabane, Eswatini
V IOCV Conference
Hiroshima, Japan
IV IOCV Conference
Rome, Italy
III IOCV Conference
Campinas and São Paulo, Brazil
II IOCV Conference
Lake Alfred and Orlando, USA
I IOCV Conference
Riverside, USA
General Organizing Committee
Activities: Responsibilities: establish the master timeline, monitor the progress of the other committees, approve conference materials, coordinate activities during the conference week, manage unforeseen issues, and oversee the conference closing.
Chair
Juliano Ayres (Chair)
Fundecitrus
juliano.ayres@fundecitrus.com.brOrganizing & Scientific Committee Chair for Brazil.
Lilian Amorim
University of São Paulo (USP)
Organizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
Eduardo Augusto Girardi
Chefia Adjunta de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento
Embrapa
Biografia Resumida
Dirceu de Mattos Junior
Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC)
Organizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
Scientific Committee
Activities: invite and confirm speakers, develop the final scientific program, appoint session moderators, establish abstract submission guidelines and categories, select reviewers, coordinate abstract evaluation, define awards, prepare the Book of Abstracts, and participate in training on the FEALQ abstract submission management platform.
Marcelo Pedreira de Miranda
Cargo
Instituição de Vínculo
Biografia Resumida
Mônica Neli Alves
Cargo
Instituição de Vínculo
Biografia Resumida
Lilian Amorim
University of São Paulo (USP)
Organizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
Eduardo Augusto Girardi
Chefia Adjunta de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento
Embrapa
Biografia Resumida
Renato Beozzo Bassanezi
Fundecitrus
renato.bassanezi@fundecitrus.com.brOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
Franklin Behlau
Fundecitrus
franklin.behlau@fundecitrus.com.brOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
Sílvio Aparecido Lopes
Fundecitrus
silvio.lopes@fundecitrus.com.brOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
2026 IRCHLB Steering Committee
Argentina
Beatriz Stein
Member (Retired)
EEAOC (retired)
beatrizstein@hotmail.comOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member representing Argentina.
Brazil
Renato Beozzo Bassanezi
Fundecitrus
renato.bassanezi@fundecitrus.com.brOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
Franklin Behlau
Fundecitrus
franklin.behlau@fundecitrus.com.brOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
Sílvio Aparecido Lopes
Fundecitrus
silvio.lopes@fundecitrus.com.brOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member for Brazil.
California
Chair
MaryLou Polek (Chair)
California
maryloup16@yahoo.comOrganizing & Scientific Committee Chair representing California, USA.
Georgios Vidalakis
Co-Chair
University of California
vidalg@ucr.eduOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member representing California, USA.
China
Changyong Zhou
Citrus Research Institute
zhoucy@cric.cnOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member representing China.
Xuefeng Wang
Deputy Director of Citrus Res. Inst. of CAAS and SWU
wangxuefeng@cric.cnDeputy Director, CAAS and Southwest University (SWU).
Costa Rica
Juan Delgado Fernandez
LIFE-RID/Agricenter/AMVAC
jdelgado@liferid.comOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member representing Costa Rica.
Florida
Jim Graham
University of Florida/IFAS
jhgraham@ufl.eduOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member representing Florida, USA.
Michael Rogers
University of Florida/IFAS
mrgrs@ufl.eduOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member representing Florida, USA.
Mexico
Carolina Ramirez
Mexico Agricultural Research
Carolina.raminez@senasica.gob.mxOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member representing Mexico.
South Africa
Hano Maree
Citrus Research International & Stellenbosch University
hjmaree@sun.ac.zaOrganizing & Scientific Committee Member representing South Africa.
Why You Should Attend
Attending the joint conferences represents an unique opportunity for professionals and academics to new results and updates about citrus desease.
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Knowledge Acquisition
Access frontier research and other citrus deseases data from international groups working directly on HLB and citrus virology.
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Premium Networking
Interact with global researchers and citrus growers while engaging in knowledge exchange and staying updated on the latest industry trends.
VIII International Research Conference on Huanglongbing
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