The event "Technology Attraction" brings together 300 stakeholders from the agri-food sector

The ‘Technology Attraction’ event organized by INIA and BIOVEGEN filled the room and attracted 300 researchers, heads of centers, and agrarian entrepreneurs

Eight directors from the main agrarian research centers coordinated by INIA presented their main lines of action, tailored to the needs of their autonomous community

The presence of BIOVEGEN at Fruit Attraction – where it had its own stand, organized a session in collaboration with INIA (National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology), and arranged over 200 contacts between researchers and companies interested in their projects – has confirmed a growing “buzz and interest” from the horticultural sector in R&D projects. This is expressed by the president of this platform dedicated to building bridges between technology providers and demanders, José Pellicer, who also values “the important global offer but tailored to the needs of each region” presented during the aforementioned session. Throughout the morning of October 23, the directors or senior executives of eight autonomous centers from the R&D network that INIA coordinates (CBGP in Madrid; IFAPA in Andalusia; CITA in Aragon; INAGEA in the Balearic Islands; IRIAF in Castilla La Mancha; IRTA in Catalonia; IVIA in the Valencian Community; and NEIKER in the Basque Country) presented their main strategic lines and research focus. More than 300 entrepreneurs, researchers in their own right or representatives from centers across Spain filled the hall of Fruit Forum 4. The fair’s director, Raúl Calleja – who participated in the opening of the event – stated that these BIOVEGEN sessions are a “source of pride” for this fair, “because R&D is the added value that we seek to offer to the business activity we gather here”

Group photo of the speakers from the INIA-BIOVEGEN Day

The very evolution of BIOVEGEN over the past few years also reflects this positive momentum. In 2014, the platform had 43 partner entities, but five years later, it has more than doubled those figures, and today 82 companies, six associations or private foundations, and 15 research centers turn to its services for mediation, technological advice, or information on R&D offers and demands. Among its 103 partners, 49 companies dedicated to plant breeding, 91 agri-food companies or cooperatives, and 10 nurseries are also represented, with a combined production of over 4 million plants per year.

Left-right: Rosa Arroyo-García (CBGP). José Pellicer (BIOVEGEN). Raúl Calleja (FRUIT ATTRACTION). Antonio Leyva (BIOVEGEN)

The event ‘TECHNOLOGY ATTRACTION: INIA at the service of agriculture’, held on October 23, brought together in a session with companies up to eight top officials from some of the main agricultural research centers in the country. Autonomous institutes, coordinated by INIA, which maintain research lines and projects that are often complementary or shared, but are fundamentally tailored to the needs and agricultural potential of each region. Rosa Arroyo García, Deputy Director of Biotech CBGP (UPM-INIA) explained how this network is structured and reported on the facilities where the 800 employees of this national agency work, as well as the main areas they are engaged in (Water and soil management; sustainable management of forest and agricultural systems; adaptation to climate change; conservation of genetic resources; development of new technologies applicable to the agricultural and forestry sector; integrated control of pests, diseases, and weeds; increasing the shelf life and quality of fruits and vegetables; and biotechnology and plant genetic improvement).