GO YesWeCast presented its progress in the conservation and improvement of the chestnut tree at BioCastanea 2025
Description
The YesWeCast Operational Group , framed within the NOVOXEN R&D project, has announced at the BioCastanea 2025 Scientific Technical Conference the main advances in its strategy for conserving chestnut germplasm and improving its resilience against pests and diseases .
During this key meeting for the chestnut sector, held from November 13 to 16 in Ponferrada , the group's results were presented by Beatriz Cuenca Valera , from the Maceda Nursery (Tragsa Group) , an entity participating in the YesWeCast Operational Group, who explained the progress achieved in plant cloning work and the evaluation of new materials.
Cloning of unique chestnut trees and creation of living labs in production areas
One of the central focuses of the YesWeCast Operational Group is the selection of monumental and unique chestnut trees from six producing regions in Spain , based on criteria of genetic, health, and productivity value. Plant cloning techniques are being developed from these specimens to fully preserve their characteristics.
These clones are being planted in a network of living labs in the main chestnut-growing areas of the country , where their behavior against the main diseases of the crop — such as ink disease or canker — is being analyzed, as well as their potential use as tolerant rootstocks , one of the major current demands of the sector.
The role of the Maceda Nursery in the development of the project
The Maceda Nursery (Tragsa Group) actively participates in the YesWeCast Operational Group, contributing its expertise in the production of high-quality chestnut seedlings and in biotechnological processes applied to forest plant material . Its contribution is key to ensuring the technical viability of the propagation, acclimatization, and distribution processes for the new, improved materials.
The presentation at BioCastanea allowed us to share with producers, technicians and researchers the preliminary results of the project and the next steps in the agronomic evaluation of the clones in the field.
Innovation, biodiversity and sustainability for the Spanish chestnut grove
YesWeCast represents a strategic initiative for the future of chestnut farming in Spain, by integrating:
- Plant biotechnology applied to productive forest species
- Conservation of agricultural and forest biodiversity
- Adaptation to climate change
- Improving the sustainability and competitiveness of chestnut farms
Its participation in BioCastanea 2025 further reinforces the project's role within Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) , by facilitating the direct transfer of results to the productive sector .
Technical training and knowledge transfer to the sector
Alongside the presentation of results, the sessions included practical workshops on chestnut grafting and planting , which addressed key aspects such as the selection of plant material, the most suitable grafting techniques, soil preparation and initial care after planting.
These activities align with the objective of the YesWeCast Operational Group to improve the professionalization of the sector and promote the use of more resistant plant material adapted to the new climatic and sanitary conditions .
A project aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals
The work developed by YesWeCast is directly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) linked to industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9) , responsible production and consumption (SDG 12) and the protection of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15) , contributing to a rural development model based on knowledge, innovation and sustainability.