The webinar “NTGs as a key tool for sustainable agriculture in the European Union” held

On April 25, 2024, the event “NTGs as a key tool for sustainable agriculture in the European Union” was held in virtual format, which aimed to present the latest technological advances and capabilities in this area of the IBMCP through practical examples. and projects developed with companies in the sector.

The session, which had more than 70 attendees, highlighted the fundamental role of gene editing techniques as a more precise and efficient mechanism to carry out genetic changes that allow the development of plant varieties more resistant to both abiotic and biotic stress. The potential of CRISPR-Cas technology was presented through the public-private collaboration project RESISMELO, carried out by researchers from the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP – UPV/CSIC) and the multinational Sakata Seed Iberica.

This approach highlighted the importance of establishing closer collaboration between research centers and companies with the aim of generating new innovative projects that adjust to the current challenges of the agri-food sector. In fact, during the session it was also indicated that the recent support of the European Union towards the regularization of these technologies should serve as an incentive to apply them and continue moving towards more sustainable agriculture, with crops more resistant to pests and pathogens, and each less dependent on pesticides.

Program

• 4:30 p.m. Welcome and presentation. Carlos Baixauli Soria and Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna Gutiérrez
• 4:35 p.m. NGTs as a key tool for improving the competitiveness of the agri-food sector. Practical application in collaboration with the company: RESISMELO project. Benito José Pineda Chaza and Agatha Agudelo
• 5:15 p.m. IBMCP collaboration modalities – companies. Laura Zacares Sanmartín
• 5:30 p.m. Discussion table. Moderator: Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna Gutiérrez
• 6:00 p.m. End of event