On September 15, 2016, a session titled “Trends in Genetic Improvement in Horticultural Production” was held, organized jointly by SUCA, CAJAMAR, and BIOVEGEN. The event, which took place at SUCA’s headquarters in Huelva, brought together more than 65 professionals from the sector, including researchers, companies, and funding entities.
The session 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 stimulate the private sector to undertake R&D activities and collaborations with public research centers. Financing tools and support for the development of R&D projects were also presented, such as those offered by CDTI and the BIOVEGEN platform.
Furthermore, to strengthen science-business relations and the development of R&D projects to enhance the sector’s competitiveness, 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 public agency for business R&D funding in Spain) to analyze the innovation interests of the companies requesting the meeting.
Gallery
Program and presentations of the session
10:00 a.m. Welcome.
- Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. BIOVEGEN
- José Antonio Rodríguez Vázquez. SUCA
- Manuel Carlos Sánchez San Roman. CAJAMAR
Block I FINANCING
10:15 a.m. BIOVEGEN as a catalyst for R&D projects
- Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. BIOVEGEN
10:30 a.m. Funding opportunities from CDTI for companies in the plant production sector
- Carlos Franco. Department of Health, Bioeconomy, Climate, and Natural Resources. CDTI
Block II SCIENCE
10:45 a.m. R&D tools in strawberry improvement
- Carmen Soria Navarro. IFAPA – Churriana Center (Malaga)
11:15 a.m. R&D tools in improving citrus rootstocks
- Francisco Arenas Arenas. IFAPA – Centro Las Torres-Tomejil, Alcalá del Río (Sevilla)
- Áurea Hervalejo García. IFAPA – Centro Las Torres-Tomejil, Alcalá del Río (Sevilla)
11:45 h. Break
Block III COMPANY
12:00 h. Examples of public-private collaboration in genetics and plant improvement
- Citrus: project CITRUSEQ-CITRUSGENN Carlos Baixauli. Fundación Cajamar Comunidad Valenciana
- R&D on blackberries: AGRÍCOLA EL BOSQUE Rubén Palanco.Agrícola El Bosque
- R&D on strawberries: EUROSEMILLAS Francisco Jover Cobos. Eurosemillas
- R&D on berries: PLANASA Miguel Ángel Hidalgo. Planasa
13:00 h. Discussion
1:30 PM Conclusions and Closure