Biotechnology has undergone in recent years a great scientific development that has been the basis of a new technological revolution (Genomic Revolution), which has changed the way to approach the study of living beings and the productive processes in which they participate. In agroforestry, a great advance has been experienced in the knowledge of both model plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) and the major agricultural crops (rice, corn, soybean, alfalfa, melon, tomato, squash, etc.) and forestry species like poplar. Likewise, significant progress has been made in understanding the biology of microorganisms associated with plants, both antagonistic (pathogens) and mutualistic (symbionts), and those of industrial interest. The characterization of the Genetic Resources of plants and associated microorganisms has become a strategic aspect since they represent the biological material for new biotechnological and agri-food/forestry applications.
The objective of the Doctoral Programme in Biotechnology and Genetic Resources of Plants and Associated Microorganisms at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) is to train PhDs with an up-to-date knowledge on the functioning of living beings with agri-food/forestry interest and on the industrial processes where these organisms participate, in a way that these students will be capable of leading new Research, Development and Technological Innovation (R+D+i) activities in areas such as biotechnology, agriculture, food and environmental technologies. The programme is currently structured in two lines of research: 1: Biotechnology, Breeding and Genetic Resources; 2: Biotic and Abiotic interactions, and is planning to develop a new line, 3: Computational Biology.
The Doctoral Programme in Biotechnology and Genetic Resources of Plants and Associated Microorganisms, presented a MEMORY to VERIFY its QUALITY, as an adaptation to the provisions of the Royal Decree 99/2011, that received a FAVORABLE REPORT by ANECA on 03/07/2013 and has receive the a FAVORABLE REPORT by MADRI+D on 24/05/2021. But the program has a long tradition of research and training, having previously obtained a Excellence Mention from the Ministry of Education for the academic years 2011-2012 to 2013-2014 (Mention 2011-0295). Researchers of recognized prestige in these disciplines are grouped together in different Departments of the School of Agronomy, Food and Biosystems (“Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas”, ETSIAAB) at the UPM, as well as researchers from Departments and Research Centers of the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and Madrid Institute for Rural, Agrarian and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA). A significant number of these researchers belong to the UPM Department of Biotechnology-Plant Biology and carry out their research activity at the Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP), a center of excellence Severo Ochoa, and a joint center between UPM and INIA. INIA is a collaborating center for the Doctoral Programme. This Programme has a clear international projection, with a high number of foreign students (20% in the last 5 years), and an outstanding participation of professors and students in training stays at prestigious international Universities and Research Centers.
