CES Resolution: RPC-SO-21-No.449-2020

Admission profile:

The Master programme in Agricultural Biotechnology is aimed at professionals with a third level degree duly registered with SENESCYT in the following fields of knowledge:

• Agriculture and Livestock, Aquaculture, Biology, Marine Biology, Biotechnology, Ecology, Veterinary and Zootechnics.

Graduate profile:

Students for the development of this competence will integrate learning outcomes related to: applying statistical methods in biotechnological research, through different options of a statistical package; applying bioprospecting in agricultural activities; operating bioinformatics tools for the analysis and processing of biological sequences; mastering the theories, methods and techniques to meet the needs of agricultural production systems, ensuring food security.

For the development of this competence, students will integrate learning outcomes related to: biological and immunological processes of plants and animals; application of molecular biology and genetic engineering tools; application of the basic physiological processes of plants and pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses) that can affect them, as well as their defence mechanisms; understanding of the physiological and pathological processes that take place in aquatic and terrestrial animals during the performance of their functions.

Solve problems related to pollution caused by the agricultural industry: to develop this competence, students will integrate related learning outcomes; understand the main chemical constituents, identify the solution of environmental pollution by means of bioremediation. Apply research methods to agricultural production systems in the context of the planning area.

Students for the development of this competence will integrate learning outcomes related to Apply techniques and procedures that contribute to microbiological analysis; Demonstrate that they have clear and objective scientific criteria that allow them to offer the social, economic and political environment a transparent and positive image of biotechnology and its applications.

Students for the development of this competence will integrate related learning outcomes; apply biosafety and ethical guidelines for the management and development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), hazardous biological agents and exotic organisms, apply standards, prohibitions and develop a scientific language to communicate solutions to social policies.

General objective

The Master's degree in Agricultural Biotechnology has been designed to provide students with advanced, specific and multidisciplinary training geared towards academic, scientific and professional training, offering powerful biotechnological tools to understand and solve the problems currently affecting the agricultural sector, such as the food crisis caused by climate change, dependence on agricultural inputs, loss of biodiversity, contamination of ecosystems, pests and diseases, management of economic regulations and marketing of agricultural products. In order to achieve food security in an environmentally friendly way and to solve the needs and development of the productive matrix within the context of the country, region, province and community.

Specific objectives.

• To develop knowledge of the theoretical foundations related to biotechnological applications on living organisms, for the use and improvement of plant and animal agricultural and livestock production, both aquatic and terrestrial, with emphasis on emblematic crops such as cocoa and bananas in the region.
• Develop competences and significant learning about techniques and didactic tools that allow solutions to be found to the main agricultural problems using biotechnological, genetic and molecular tools, as well as using non-conventional, natural raw materials and agro-industrial by-products for the sake of development in order to reduce production costs.
• Evaluate the problems of biotechnology and agricultural production based on ethical and professional principles such as respect for the environment and the ecosystem, disease prevention, the use of microorganisms as the main biotechnological resources, as well as forming values of respect for cultural diversity, ancestral knowledge, intercultural technologies and having an honest, disciplined and professional performance in accordance with the National Development Plan 2017-2021. A lifetime.

Class times:

Saturdays: 08:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 17:00
Sunday: 08:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 17:00

Modules:

• Scientific Research Methodology
• Biostatistics and Experimental Design
• Biosafety and Bioethics
• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering
• Biotechnological Microbiology
• Agricultural Bioprospecting
• Bioinformatics
• Food Biotechnology
• Degree Workshop I
• Plant Physiology and Pathology
• Animal Physiology and Pathology
• Degree Workshop II
• Plant Biotechnology
• Animal Biotechnology
• Environmental Bioremediation
• Degree Workshop III