Gedeth and Biovegen will promote the technological transfer of Spanish plant biotechnology companies abroad

Spain is the eighth world power in scientific production in biotechnology

The plant biotechnology industry faces a great growth opportunity with the challenge of taking advantage of technological innovation in genome editing to promote more efficient and sustainable agriculture.

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The external appeal of Spanish biotechnology and its growth potential in other countries has led Gedeth Network , an expert in advising on the growth and internationalization of companies, and Biovegen , the plant biotechnology technology platform in Spain, to join forces to work on the promotion, export and technology transfer of Spanish plant biotechnology companies.

 

Under the collaboration agreement, which also includes training activities, both organizations will work to improve the competitiveness of the Spanish agri-food sector by incorporating new technologies based on plant biology, through the generation of joint public-private R&D projects ; greater transfer of knowledge and technology to the business sector; the contribution to the design of R&D strategies adapted to the agri-food sector; and the promotion of greater public and private investment in R&D.

 

Biovegen has more than 150 members including companies, associations and private foundations, universities and public bodies in the biotechnology sector which, with a turnover of almost 12.000 billion euros, already represents 1% of the national GDP.

 

Tomatoes with more vitamins, drought-resistant corn, gluten-free wheat for celiacs… plant biotechnology is the greatest hope for the development of more efficient and sustainable agriculture

 

The plant biotechnology industry faces a significant growth opportunity with the challenge of leveraging technological innovation in genome editing to drive more efficient and sustainable agriculture. This includes, for example, improving crop characteristics (productivity, resistance to climate or pests, quality, flavor) and nutritional qualities (vitamin enrichment, enhanced flavor, nutraceutical foods) while simultaneously reducing their requirements (for water, fertilizers, pesticides, and land) and their pollutants.

 

“The knowledge and experience of Spanish biotech companies enjoy a very good reputation in international markets, which appreciate this expertise and can take advantage of the EU 's advanced framework to forge alliances with Spanish companies,” emphasizes Juan Millán , managing partner of Gedeth Network. “After all, Spain is the world's eighth-largest producer of scientific research in biotechnology,” he adds.

 

“The collaboration with Gedeth will allow Spanish companies to have a reference partner to respond to the global challenges facing the sector, facilitating the search for partners and business opportunities in more than 75 countries, the development of proposals and consortia abroad and international networking,” says Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna, manager of Biovegen.

 

The push for genetically modified crops can make a significant contribution to the productivity and sustainability goals set out in European and global strategies. In fact, this technological revolution is already allowing us to find tomatoes in the market with a high content of calming substances that help control high blood pressure, or sea bream that produce up to 50% more meat without needing to increase their feed intake, while many others are already being developed, such as gluten-free wheat suitable for celiac sufferers, mushrooms that don't turn black when cut, and drought-tolerant corn.