The headquarters of the Almeria group Beyond Seeds hosted more than a hundred attendees at this event on April 26, including institutional and business authorities, as well as numerous researchers and personalities from Almeria society. In addition to commemorating International Seed Day , the event served to show the roadmap that the company is developing in terms of R&D , exposing the progress of the work that is being carried out, jointly, with the Center for Biological Research (CIB) Margarita Salas – CSIC and the University of Granada (UGR) , through the presentations offered by the representatives of these entities. 

Francisco Bermúdez welcomed the event and thanked the presence of the speakers, attendees and collaborators who made the event possible, the Almería Science-Technology Park (PITA) , the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the University from Granada, the University of Almería and chef Tony García . In addition, he analyzed the current situation and the next steps that Beyond Seeds will take: “We are immersed in projects focused on improving people's health, as a general objective, offering solutions through research into the applications of seeds that allow us fight against neurodegenerative diseases and cancer; For this reason, we go beyond the seeds,” he noted.

Next, Bermúdez gave way to the first talk, given by researchers from the University of Granada, Jesús María Porres Foulquie and Rosario Martínez Martínez , who focused on 'The Science of the seed: Nutritive and functional value' .

Subsequently, it was the turn of the researchers from the Biological Research Center (CIB) Margarita Salas – CSIC Ana Martínez Gil and Carmen Gil Ayuso-Gontán , who addressed 'Health beyond the seed: Neurodegenerative diseases' .

The third presentation was given by CIB researcher Margarita Salas – CSIC Pilar Sánchez Testillano , who spoke about 'The Science of the seed: Advances in in vitro plant cultivation' . Sánchez Testillano spoke about the challenges of current agriculture and the need to improve crops to adapt them to the new environmental conditions imposed by climate change.

Finally, researchers from the University of Granada José Carlos Prados Salazar , Consolación Melguizo Alonso and José Manuel Delgado López gave a presentation on 'Health beyond the seed: Development of the nanodrug NE0920' . During their intervention, they emphasized that a multidisciplinary research developed by Cellbitec , together with José Carlos Prados and Consolación Melguizo, from the Biomedical Research Center (CIBM) ​​and Biosanitary Research Institute (ibs.Granada); Jesús María Porres Foulquie, from the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INyTA), Biomedical Research Center (CIBM) ​​and Joint University Institute of Sports and Health (iMUDS); and José Manuel Delgado, from the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, all of them from the University of Granada, has led to a new nanodrug for the treatment of advanced colon cancer.

“The consortium between the aforementioned research groups and the company Cellbitec has managed, from biomolecules obtained from Euphorbia Lathyris seeds and amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (similar to those that form our bones), to develop a nanodrug that has shown both in tests in cell cultures and in experimental animals, a great effect against colon cancer, which opens a hopeful perspective for a future application in patients," they noted.

Tasting by Tony García, the highlight

After the conferences, the prestigious Almería chef and ambassador of the Cellbitec Foundation, Tony García, delighted the attendees with a tasting meal in which fruits and vegetables were among the main ingredients of the dishes and where Zucchiolo had a special role . , the new vegetable developed by Beyond Seeds and marketed by Unica Group , which received the Innovation Award from Fruit Logistica (FLIA) in the last edition of this international fair, last February.