On March 9, 2017, the event “Trends in Genetic Improvement in Horticultural Production” was held, jointly organized by CTAEX, CAJAMAR, and BIOVEGEN. The event, which took place at the Ferial Institution of Extremadura – FEVAL in Don Benito (Badajoz), brought together more than 40 professionals from the sector, including researchers, companies, and funding entities.
The event served to showcase new technological trends in plant biology and their possibilities, the added value that research brings to the economic activity of the private plant production sector, and how this can encourage the private sector to undertake R&D activities and collaborations with public research centers. Funding tools and support for the development of R&D projects were also presented, such as those offered by CDTI and the BIOVEGEN platform.
Additionally, to strengthen science-business relationships and the development of R&D projects to enhance the competitiveness of the sector, attendees had the opportunity to mobilize R&D proposals and hold bilateral meetings with interested companies or researchers. Several meetings were also held with an expert from CDTI (the main Spanish public agency for funding business R&D) to analyze the innovation interests of the companies requesting the meeting.
Gallery
Program and Presentations of the Event
10:00 a.m. Welcome
- José Luis Llerena Ruiz. Director of CTAEX
- Manuel Gómez Parejo. General Director of FEVAL
- José Luis Iglesias Quirós. Director of the Cajamar Caja Rural office in Mérida
- Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna Gutiérrez. Coordinator of the BIOVEGEN Platform
Block I FINANCING
10:15 a.m. BIOVEGEN as a catalyst for R&D projects
- Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna Gutiérrez. Coordinator of BIOVEGEN
10:35 a.m. Funding opportunities from CDTI for companies in the plant production sector
- Carlos Franco Alonso. Department of Health, Bioeconomy, Climate, and Natural Resources. CDTI
Block II APPLIED SCIENCE
10:50 a.m. Genetic improvement programs in crops of the Jerte Valley
- Margarita López Corrales. Project coordinator in the area of fruit growing. CICYTEX
11:20 a.m. R&D Tools: Application of genetic improvement in the production of tomatoes, tobacco, almonds, and stevia
- Inocencio Blanco Martín. R&D project manager in the agriculture area. CTAEX
- Lorena Zajara Serrano. R&D project manager in the agriculture area. CTAEX
11:45 a.m. Break
Block III COMPANY
12:00 p.m. Examples of public-private collaboration in genetics and plant improvement
- R&D in citrus: project CITRUSEQ-CITRUSGENN. Carlos Baixauli. Cajamar Experience Center
- TANY NATURE. Mario Horrillo. R&D Department. Tany Nature
- FRUTARIA. Andrés Stewart. R&D Department. Frutaria
1:00 PM. Colloquium
1:30 PM. Conclusions and closure