Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, together with Juanma Moreno, President of the Andalusian Regional Government, visited the ANCCE Laboratory
Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, accompanied by Juan Manuel Moreno—the President of the Andalusian Regional Government—and Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco—the Andalusian Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development—together with Juan Ignacio Zoido—member of the European Parliament—visited ANCCE’s Molecular Genetics and Genomics Laboratory. Throughout the visit, they were accompanied by Jose Juan Morales, President of ANCCE, Arancha Rodriguez, Director of the Purebred Spanish Horse Stud Book and members of the ANCCE Executive Committee.
Visitors were provided with firsthand information regarding the activities generated within the scope of Purebred Spanish Horses, as well as the specific R+D+i work carried out by the PRE Stud Book and the ANCCE Molecular Genetics and Genomics Laboratory.
Specialized, state-of-the-art equipment, all of which is used for genetic and genomic analysis, was presented to the guests. The EQUIGENOM Operational Group, with its innovative, ANCCE-led project was also highlighted. This project includes the design and manufacture of a DNA array that facilitates, in a single analysis, parentage verification, the diagnosis of hereditary diseases, the detection of specific traits that are of economic importance for PRE breeders, and genomic selection in Purebred Spanish horses. Thanks to this array, breeders are able to make timely decisions regarding the selection of breeding stock, thus leading to greater turnover in equine genetic improvement. Consequently, breeders have much more data available to them and at a faster rate when making decisions to increase the genetic progress of their herds, with the corresponding economic savings for their stud farms.
The develop the DNA array and the acquisition of laboratory equipment was all possible thanks to European Union co-financing.
The visitors expressed their curiosity regarding the work undertaken, and were extremely interested in the actual operation of the laboratory's state-of-the-art equipment. The President of ANCCE expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of this encounter and the importance of publicizing the work carried out by ANCCE.
