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  5. IV Severo Ochoa Conference: “Evolutionary Strategies in Plant Biotechnology. From natural selection to synthetic innovation”
Conferencias Severo Ochoa

IV Severo Ochoa Conference: “Evolutionary Strategies in Plant Biotechnology. From natural selection to synthetic innovation”

(Severo Ochoa Conferences)
The SEBBM, in collaboration with the Carmen and Severo Ochoa Foundation, launch the Severo Ochoa Conferences, which will deal monographically with research topics on the frontier of knowledge and will be coordinated by leading people in these fields.
Por SEBBM 18/06/2026 19/06/2026 Valencia (Spain)
Datos del evento
Fecha: 18/06/2026 19/06/2026
Lugar: Jardín Botánico
C/ Quart 80, Extramurs, 46008 Valencia (Spain)
Precio: €175 (SEBBM members) / €200 (non-members) / €300 (companies)
Inscripción socios Inscripción no socios

We are excited to announce the Fourth Severo Ochoa Conference with the theme «Evolutionary Strategies in Plant Biotechnology. From natural selection to synthetic innovation» The conference will take place on June 18th and 19th, 2026, at the Jarín Botánico de Valencia. This event is organized by the SEBBM in collaboration with the Fundación Carmen y Severo Ochoa. 

We have a fantastic lineup of confirmed invited speakers, including: Ralph Bock (MPI for Plant Physiology), Caixia Gao (IGDB, Beijing), Rubén Garrido-Oter (MPI for Plant Breeding), Jake Harris (Cambridge University), Edwidge Moyroud (SLCU, Cambridge), Diego Orzáez (IBMCP, Valencia), Alison Smith (Cambridge University), Roberto Solano (CNB, Madrid) and Matias Zurbriggen (CEPLAS, Uni. Düsseldorf). Additionally, we will have poster sessions, and a subset of posters will be chosen for short talks.

Registration will remain open until May 21st, with a limited number of spots available. SEBBM members will enjoy a reduced registration fee.

Local organizers:

  • Miguel Blázquez (IBMCP, Valencia)
  • Juan Carbonell (IBMCP, Valencia)
  • Cristina Ferrándiz (IBMCP, Valencia)

Scientific committee:

  • Pablo Vera (IBMCP, Valencia)
  • Ralph Bock (MPI Mol Plant Physiology
  • Edwidge Moyroud (SLCU, Cambridge)
Enlaces de interés:
Organiza:
Patrocina:

Registration for the IV Severo Ochoa conference

To register you must complete the online registration form and make a transfer, with the data indicated in section 2.

Abstract Submission deadline: April 30th

Registration deadline: May 21st

Registration payment deadline May 5th

1.1. Registration fees
AttendeesFee
SEBBM members€175
No-members€200
Companies€300

The registration fee includes:

  • Access to the Scientific Programme.
  • Congress Material
  • Presentation of a poster, prior approval by the scientific committee.
  • Picnic lunches.
  • Conference dinner.
1.2. Pay:

Make a transfer to the account listed below. In the concept you must indicate your «name and surname – Severo Ochoa Conference». Your registration space will not be confirmed until payment is received.

Account holderSpanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
IBANES20 0049 5817 8628 1022 5149
BIC/SWIFTBSCHESMMXXX
EntityBank Santander

2. Abstract Submission

Please, follow the template provided as an example and this guidelines:

  • Use Times New Roman 12 pt
  • Title should be in bold
  • The first author should be the presenting author
  • Indicate affiliations using superscript numbers
  • Abstract main body: please, keep the length to about 200 words
  • An acknowledgment section may be added
  • References section may be added and references listed by numbers
Download abstract template

3. Possible accommodations

Accommodations of various price ranges are available in Valencia, all conveniently accessible via public transportation or within walking distance from the venue.

  • You can consult information about the Hotels on their websites.

HotelAdressContact
Hotel Hospes Palau de la MarAv. Navarro Reverter 14, L’Eixample
46004 Valencia		+34 610 22 63 54
Hotel Vincci MercatC/ Llanterna 31, Ciutat Vella
46001 Valencia		+34 961 01 42 60
Hotel Ad Hoc Monumental
C/ Boix 4, Ciutat Vella
46003 Valencia		+34 963 91 91 40
Hotel Ad Hoc CarmenC/ Samaniego 20, Ciutat Vella
46003 Valencia		+34 960 45 45 45
Hotel NH Valencia CenterC/ Ricardo Micó 1, Campanar
46009 Valencia		+34 963 47 50 00
Hotel Turia ValenciaC/ Professor Beltrán Báguena 2, Campanar
46009 Valencia		+34 963 47 00 00
Colegio Mayor Rector PesetPl. Forn de Sant Nicolau 4, Ciutat Vella
46001 Valencia		+34 963 16 60 00
Novotel Valencia LavantAv. Pius XII 4, Campanar
46009 Valencia		+34 960 88 44 44
L&H Gran Vía ValenciaGran Vía de Fernando el Católico 63, Extramurs
46008 Valencia		+34 960 10 56 43
YOU & CO Quart BoutiqueC/ Dr. Peset Cervera 8, Extramurs
46008 Valencia		+34 963 15 40 12

IV Severo Ochoa Conference program

Historically, Evolution and Biotechnology have been viewed as separate disciplines. However, closer examination reveals a strong potential for synergy. Insights into how metabolic and signaling pathways have evolved in plants can inform both the limitations and possibilities of biotechnological applications. In this context, Synthetic Biology offers a compelling route to bypass evolutionary constraints and develop innovative solutions. We believe that bringing together experts in evolutionary biology and synthetic biology will generate valuable cross-disciplinary dialogue.

Thursday, 18 June 2026
11:30-13:30Registration and poster setting
13:30-14:15Lunch (outdoors, in the Botanic Garden)
14:15-14:30Welcome address (Organizers, SEBBM, FCySO)

Session I: Evolution of Plant Signaling and Bioengineering Tools – Chair: C. Ferrandiz

14:30-15:15Roberto Solano (CNB, Madrid)
The “missing hormone” and the evolution of jasmonates in land plants
15:15-16:00Rubén Garrido-Oter (Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding, Cologne)
Symbiotic and commensal root microbes are key determinants of plant responses to rising CO₂
16:00-16:45Matías Zurbriggen (CEPLAS, University of Düsseldorf)
Plant synthetic and reconstruction biology approaches for the study and control of cellular processes in plants –optogenetics as an enabling technology
16:45-17:15Coffee break and posters viewing

Session II: Evolution and Engineering of Metabolism – Chair: C. Ferrandiz

17:15-18:00Alison Smith (Cambridge University)
Exploiting B vitamin metabolism for synthetic biology and ecology
18:00-18:45Selected short talks
Ulrich Eckhard (IBMB-CSIC, Barcelona)
From Evolutionary Blueprints to Synthetic Innovation: Engineering Microbial Surface Nanomachines for Targeted Plant Protection
Armando Albert (IQF-CSIC, Madrid)
Evolution-Guided Remodeling of ABA Receptors Enables Engineering of Hormone Perception
Maria Lois (CRAG, Barcelona)
Evolution of molecular determinants for SUMO-activating enzyme subcellular localization in plants
18:45-19:30Keynote EMBO Lecture
Ralph Bock (MPI Mol Plant Physiology, Potsdam)
Exploiting horizontal genome transfer in plant breeding and synthetic biology
21:00Dinner (Restaurant Contrapunto, Palau de les Arts)

Friday, 19 June 2026

Session III. Evolution of Development and Modular Design – Chair: M. Blázquez

9:00-9:45Edwige Moyroud (SLCU, Cambridge)
Blooming across scales: understanding the molecular mechanisms flowering plants use to pattern their petals and their impact on plant fitness
9:45- 10:30Diego Orzáez (IBMCP, Valencia)
Exploring Novel Plant Traits Beyond Evolutionary Constraints with Bioluminescence as a Probe
10:30-11:15Selected short talks
Isabel Monte (ZMBP, University of Tuebingen)
Molecular plant-microbe interactions: from evolutionary insights to immune receptor engineering
Juan-José Llorens-Gámez (IBMCP, Valencia)
CRISPR-Mediated Targeted Gene Replacement at the Arabidopsis thaliana MIR390a Locus Enables Artificial MicroRNA Production and Effective Gene Silencing
Monica Meijón (Universidad de Oviedo)
From algae to angiosperms: evolutionary strategies of plant adaptation to combined heat and drought stress
11:15-12:00Coffee break and posters viewing

Session IV. High-precision Plant Biotechnology – Chair: M. Blázquez

12:00-12:45Jake Harris (Cambridge University)
Engineering chromatin states to encode transcriptional immune memory in Arabidopsis
12:45-13:30Caixia Gao (Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology,
Beijing)
Precision Genome Editing: From Molecular Mechanisms to Crop Engineering
13:30 -13:45Conclusions and Farewell (organizers)
13:45- 15:00Lunch (outdoors, Botanic Garden)
En esta sección