Fundecitrus - Fund for Citrus Plant Protection, is an association of citrus producers and processors, whose object is plant sanitary defense.

In addition to acting in monitoring activities, it aids the State Agriculture Department in the citrus canker eradication and performs and finances scientific research to discover forms to control and handle diseases and pests that affect citrus plantations.

In 1984, to contain the disease's spreading of what at that time was considered the largest threat to Brazilian citriculture, Fundecitrus created the State Campaign to Prevent Citrus Canker (CEPRECC). With its own team of agronomists, it began to provide guidelines and instructions to producers on how to prevent the disease. In 1992, accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture, it assumed all the responsibilities to prevent and inspect citrus canker in São Paulo. In 1994, it was authorized to extend its operations to the South of the Triângulo Mineiro region, in the State of Minas Gerais.

Fundecitrus partnerships with the federal and state governments to inspect and eradicate Citrus Canker ensured the disease's control. Services provided by the institution do not cost anything to public coffers and this work prevents the creation of phytosanitary barriers to Brazilian citriculture.

Expanding its Action
With the citrus complex progress - currently it is the main economic activity of more than 440 municipalities of the State of São Paulo and the Triangulo Mineiro, responsible for 87.7% of the Brazilian orange production and raw material for 98% of citrus juice that Brazil exports - Fundecitrus innovated and expanded its action. Further to inspecting and combating citrus canker, it turned its attention to other serious problems, such as the Ecdytolopha aurantiana, citrus leaf miner, leprosis, blossom blight, black spots, citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC -"amarelinho") and citrus sudden death (MSC).

Currently, the institution provides services, and has the responsibility of transferring information and answering to producers' questions. For this purpose it has 14 Phytosanitary Support Centers and 33 bases, in Regional Offices for Agriculture and Livestock Defense (EDA's).

They are computerized and strategically distributed in the citrus complex. Agronomists and technicians are at the producers' disposal. Moreover, in addition to services provided on the web, there is a toll-free line (+ 0800 11-2155) to contact the institution.

From 1997 onwards, Fundecitrus provides instructions to nurserymen / nurserywomen and citrus producers, disseminating the appropriate technology for nursery tree production, and assisting authorities in preparing specific regulations for citrus nursery tree production.

The increasing demand for certified nursery trees is considered another Fundecitrus victory.

Fundecitrus is ready to provide information to producers as quickly as possible. It invests more than R$3 million annually in dozens of its own research projects and in studies carried out by governmental bodies, universities and private institutions. Investments are made not only in researches performed in Brazil. The entity encourages the exchange of information and stimulates researches in partnerships with institutions and scientists.

Fundecitrus' mission continues to be the same since it was founded: To ensure the sanity of the citriculture complex, respecting the Human being and the environment.

In addition to its more than 30 years of work for Brazilian citriculture, Fundecitrus also invests in social actions, such as Fundecitrus Supplementary Education Centers, in which the institution meets the needs of 650 children and teenagers of the cities of Araraquara and Itápolis, in the State of São Paulo.

Fundecitrus received the Child Friendly Company seal, granted by Fundação Abrinq pelos Direitos das Crianças for its social work.