The Cannabis Genome: A New Era in Genetics, Genomics, and Breeding

Dr. Angel Fernández i Martí is plant geneticist at UC Berkeley (USA) in molecular plant breeding. His research interests are to apply his knowledge and expertise in plant breeding to improve tolerance to biotic and abiotic environmental stress and nutritional quality of crop plants. He usually includes both classical and molecular genetics to address and solve major questions in agriculture. His results are always making important advances of state of the art in horticultural crops. In addition to his role as a scientist and educator at UC Berkeley, he is the CEO and cofounder at MyFloraDNA. MyFloraDNA’s goal is to usher in the new era of plant breeding in the cannabis industry. They give cultivators, breeders, and nurseries the power to understand their plant genetics, allowing them to unlock their full potential. Dr. Fernandez was one of the first scientists in applying the CRISPR technology in plants (tomato) and now he is bringing this technology to the cannabis industry. He has been awarded with prestigious prizes and fellowships such as Marie Curie, IDT Sustainability Award 2018 for his work with CRISPR in plants or selected by the Spanish Ministry of Science as the Best Young Spanish Researcher in the field of Horticultural Sciences.

Prof. Jaime Prohens holds a PhD in Agricultural Engineering (1997) and is Full Professor of Genetics and Plant Breeding at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) since 2009. His research deals with plant breeding and enhancement, including assessment of diversity, hybridization, molecular markers, genomics, phenomics, quality, resistance to stresses, and evolution. He has co-authored over 180 papers in JCR journals, 60 book chapters and technical publications, and around 325 contributions to congresses, and has developed five varieties of vegetables. He has coordinated or been PI of over 50 research projects and contracts, including several international and H2020 projects. He is associate editor of plant breeding journals such Euphytica and Frontiers in Plant Science section Plant Breeding, as well as member of the editorial board of Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. He has been senior editor of the Handbook of Plant Breeding series (Springer). During the period 2004-2008 he served as president of the European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA), of which presently is Scientific Secretary. In 2012, he was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca (Romania)