CBGP-Business Conference: Cutting-edge Science and Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture

FULL CAPACITY

The Day «"CBGP-EMPRESA: Cutting-edge science and innovation for sustainable agriculture"» It will be held next March 5, 2026 at the CBGP Plant Biotechnology and Genomics Centre (UPM-INIA/CSIC). The event will take place in the auditorium of this research centre located in the UPM Science and Technology Park, Montegancedo Campus, M-40 Highway (28223) Madrid. The event, organized by BIOVEGEN and the CBGP, has as aim to promote collaborative innovation and improve the competitiveness of the Spanish agri-food sector.

During the meeting, the center's technological capabilities will be presented and attendees will be offered a guided tour because of its facilities.

The event is designed as a tool for developing collaborations and business, so participating professionals will be able to request and hold bilateral meetings for the promotion of science-business collaborations and projects.

Program

10:00 a.m. Reception of attendees and welcome coffee with networking

10:45 a.m. Opening of the day

• UPM. Juan Manuel Muñoz. Vice-Rector for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Transfer
• CSIC. Ana Castro. Vice President of Innovation and Transfer
• BIOVEGEN. José Pellicer. President

11:00 a.m. CBGP Presentation

• Isabel Allona. Director. CBGP

11:10 a.m. BIOVEGEN as a plant innovation ecosystem

• Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. BIOVEGEN Manager

11:15 a.m. BLOCK I. Biofertilization and bionutrition
Moderator: Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. Manager. BIOVEGEN

• Molecular and environmental determinants of fungal endophytism. Soledad Sacristán
• High resolution microbial profiling and novel enzyme discovery. Jaime Huertas-Cepas
• Engineering roots to improve plant growth and stress resilience. Juan Carlos Del Pozo
• Improving root vigor: more stress resistant, biomass production and carbon sequestration. Miguel Ángel Moreno
• FERTINAGRO BIOTECH. Ignasi Salaet. Director of Research
• CERES BIOTICS. Licinio Díaz. Director of Research and Development

12:05 h. Rest

12:20 h. BLOCK II. Biostimulation and bioprotection
Moderator: Guy Vancanneyt. Knowledge Transfer Program Coordinator. CBGP

• Interference strategies for the prevention of bacterial diseases in plants. Emilia López
• Innovative solutions to enhance crop tolerance to abiotic stress. Castilian Sea
• Plant resistance-based solutions for sustainable pest control. Mª Estrella Santamaría
• Mycoviruses: Virus-fungus-plant interaction. María Ángeles Ayllón
• Climate resilient non-transgenic tree genotypes – Natural Biostimulants for tree crops. Mariano Perales
• ROVENSA NEXT. José Nolasco. Global Director of R&D in Bionutrition
• NANOLIFE. Enrique Nice. Co-founder 

13:10 h. BLOCK III. Genetic enhancement and editing
Moderator: David Lapuente. Project Manager. BIOVEGEN

• Genomic Assisted Breeding – Predictive breeding. Julio Isidro
• Adaptive Genetics and Genomics. José María Jiménez
• Epigenetic Regulation of Agronomic Traits. Pedro Crevillen
• Engineer biobased production. Krzysztof Wabnik
• Plant allergens. Araceli Díaz
• MADEINPLANT. Federico Grau. CEO
• RAMIRO ARNEDO. Javier Pena. R&D Researcher

2:00 p.m. Lunch networking

3:00 PM. CBGP Guided Tour

3:45 p.m. Round table. "Funding and promoting collaborative innovation"«
Moderator: Antonio Molina. Professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and Researcher at the CBGP

• CDTI-Center for Technological Development and Innovation. Carlos Franco. Technical Advisor, Agri-food Sector
• AEI-State Research Agency. Marian Ferre. Deputy Director of Thematic Programs
• CAM-Community of Madrid. Marina P. Villegas. Director General of Research and Technological Innovation
• IVORO VENTURES. Pedro Alvarez. CEO and founder
• SWANLAAB VENTURE FACTORY. Claudia Jiménez. Partner at Swanlaab Innvierte Agri-Food Tech Fund (SIAFT)

4:45 p.m. Conclusions and closing remarks

• Antonio Molina. Professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and Researcher at the CBGP