The characterization, management and conservation of genetic resources in the best possible sanitary conditions guarantee the maintenance of biodiversity and are a basic pillar of food security and sustainable development, as well as research on the response of biodiversity and ecosystems to anthropogenic global change. The development of breeding programs requires knowledge of the genetic basis of the traits of interest, as well as the interaction between genetic regulation and environmental and cultivation conditions. In addition, the increasing interest in foods of differentiated quality, as well as the perception of the relationship between health and nutrition, makes it necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of agri-food products and to establish the scientific basis for their characterization.

This line includes four sub-lines:

• Conservation, evaluation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
• Identification, evaluation and regulation of traits of interest.
• Genetic improvement and selection mechanisms.
• Digital tools and data science applied to genetic improvement programs.