In an agricultural sector where resilience and genetic yield make the difference between the success and failure of a growing season, scientific research is no longer an option, but the cornerstone of competitiveness. Aware of this paradigm shift, the plant breeding company CapGen Seeds has announced an ambitious roadmap for the 2026/2027 growing season, placing R&D at the heart of its growth strategy.

The Almería-based seed company is approaching this coming season by doubling its research capacity. To this end, it has also committed to the strategic expansion of its pathology and cell culture departments, a development underpinned by a significant strengthening of its technical team.

A milestone in agricultural research: Innovation at the molecular level

This new infrastructure represents an unprecedented leap forward and a shift in scale in terms of the company’s capacity. The aim is clear: to develop and strengthen its own genetics, which form the cornerstone of its commercial catalogue.

In-house genetics: From the laboratory to the greenhouse

CapGen Seeds’ new molecular biology laboratory will not operate as an isolated entity. On the contrary, it serves as the analytical driving force behind the breeding programmes developed in-house by the company.

Its direct integration will make it possible to:

• Speed up variety development processes.
• Provide comprehensive scientific support for agronomic trials.
• Optimise the trials being carried out in parallel in greenhouses and trial fields.

Elena Pérez, Head of Research at CapGen Seeds, emphasises the immense strategic value of this operational merger:

This firm commitment to in-house research aims to consolidate the knowledge generated within the company itself. The aim is to ensure that the development of new vegetable varieties responds swiftly and directly to:

• Emerging plant health threats.
• The changing weather conditions faced by farmers.
• The growing demands of the market in terms of productivity, quality, flavour and post-harvest preservation.

A team capable of rising to the scientific challenge

Technology requires the support of talented people. For this reason, this increase in research activity is accompanied by a strengthening of the technical team.

This expansion of the workforce is aimed at ensuring a continuous and smooth exchange of information between the genetic improvement programmes and the production areas. In this way, the rigour and precision of the trials are maintained at every stage of the development process.

Down-to-earth science: Real solutions for farmers

CapGen Seeds’ working model reaffirms a fundamental principle of the sector: biotechnological innovation must always address the real problems faced by farmers.

By combining significant investment in molecular biology, plant pathology and cell culture with hands-on fieldwork, the company is consolidating its position as a plant breeder with a strong international presence that remains true to its roots in Almería. Today more than ever, CapGen Seeds continues to channel all its resources into the search for cutting-edge agronomic solutions.