Last days for submission of scientific works to CBSementes 2022

The XXI Brazilian Seed Congress, the biggest event in the country's seed sector, has extended the deadline for submitting scientific papers until next Monday, July 18th. Promoted by the Brazilian Association of Seed Technology (ABRATES), the event should bring together around 1.200 professionals, including technicians and rural producers, businesspeople, researchers, teachers and students in the sector between the 12th and 15th of September 2022, at Expo Unimed , in Curitiba. Over four days, the congress will bring together more than 50 speakers and 20 companies from the sector in 60 activities.  

With the theme “Seed: Driver of Agribusiness”, the congress will offer lectures, panels, poster sessions with scientific works, in addition to the technological showroom of new products and services from companies in the agribusiness scene. Also taking place on the last day of CBSementes will be the 10th Brazilian Symposium on Forest Seed Technology, the 15th Brazilian Symposium on Seed Pathology and the 4th Brazilian Symposium on Forage Species Seeds, organized by the respective committees of the Abrates areas. 

Topics such as germplasm banks, gene editing using Crispr technology, plantability concepts and the direction of teaching and research in seed science and technology will be at the center of the debate at the event.  

Agenda 

The first panel "Germplasm Bank - role in maintaining biodiversity", which is scheduled for September 12th, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, will have the participation of two researchers. Dr. Vânia Azevedo, researcher at the International Potato Research Center CIP/CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), will present the topic "The role of CGIAR in preserving seeds worldwide". Dr. Rosa Lia Barbieri, from Embrapa Clima Temperado, was also invited to this panel, who will address the topic "Embrapa's participation in Germplasm Banks worldwide". "We will have a special program, practically already defined, and qualified professionals to debate the most innovative in terms of research in the area of ​​seeds", states the president of the CBSementes Organizing Committee, Dr. Fernando Augusto Henning. 

Firstly, Henning highlights among the themes the importance of plant germplasm banks, which are places where all the seeds and genetic variability of species from all over the world are stored, to guarantee the survival and improvement of plants. "This subject is super important at a time when the preservation of biodiversity is being discussed, especially in this time of impacts from climate change, fires in forest regions and conflicts between countries", says Henning. 

According to him, the debate aims to bring to light the importance and quality of the seed, thus showing how germplasm banks, including everything from forest species to large crops, are operating around the world. Another topic on the agenda of the event refers to gene editing applied to the production and quality of seeds in general, with a focus on Crispr technology that is revolutionizing research in the field of genetics around the world. 

In general terms, genome editing makes it possible to develop agricultural crops resistant to pests, correct defective genes in genomes and rewrite the entire genomes of microorganisms. "We want to bring to the discussion all the technologies that are arriving and are already a reality, preparing society to understand a little more about these tools that are much more effective than transgenics itself, especially when we talk about seed quality", emphasizes Henning. 

The importance of plantability for different crops is another relevant subject within the discussions. One of the speakers on this panel will be Unesp professor, Dr. Paulo Roberto Arbex, who will talk about large crops and plantability in general. "The concept of plantability has been widely used to check the quality of sowing, among different species and is a great challenge in terms of establishing crops", observes the president of the event. 

In addition to talking about new technologies and innovations in the seed sector, CBSementes will debate an essential subject for the seed class about the future of teaching and research in seed science and technology. This panel will be organized by professor Denise Cunha Dias, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Seed Science (JSS). 

"This is an opportune moment to talk about this and the professor has a good presence in universities. She feels the pain and needs of students in relation to the seed market", adds Henning. 

Service

XXI Brazilian Seed Congress 

When: from September 12th to 15th, 2022 

Where: Expo Unimed, Curitiba (PR) 

Information and registration: https://www.cbsementes.com/ 

Work submission link: https://www.cbsementes.com/trabalhos