INTERNATIONAL MASTER IN PLANT GENETICS, GENOMICS AND BREEDING

Current edition: 1st part: October 2023 – June 2024 / 2nd part: October 2024 – June 2025

Plant breeding plays a key role in increasing crop yield and quality, by developing varieties that are adapted to the different environmental conditions, make better use of inputs and are integrated in environmentally and economically viable agricultural systems. This discipline has evolved to a complex science, integrating new genetic, genomic, molecular, cellular and computer-based tools into classical selection methods. It is therefore necessary to train young professionals and scientists to meet the challenges of the agriculture of the future.

The main objectives of the Master are to provide:

• an understanding of the basics and principles of modern plant breeding, including molecular, genomic, phenomic, and biotechnological techniques;
  
• comprehension of the classical selection and breeding methods and criteria to assess the advantages and drawbacks of each according to the characteristics of crop species, the breeding objectives, the environmental conditions and the socioeconomic context;
  
• the skills necessary to integrate in a breeding programme the conventional and the most up-todate techniques that contribute towards greater efficacy in the selection processes and in the development of new varieties;
  
• competence to design a breeding programme for a given crop species for the conditions of a country or region according specific objectives;
  
• an introduction into research, and development of skills and competencies involved.

This Master programme is designed to train professionals in the field of plant breeding by integrating the advanced tools into classical selection methods. The specialization profile of this degree enables students to undertake technical responsibilities in this domain as well as to perform high-level scientific research.

Duration:

• First part (first academic year): October-June, 60 ECTS
• Second part (second academic year): 10 months, 60 ECTS

For further academic information please refer to the Academic Web of the Master