Dr. Manuel Manchado is a principal researcher at IFAPA (Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), based at the Centro El Toruño in Cádiz, Spain. A leading expert in aquaculture genetics and marine resource sustainability, Dr. Manchado heads breeding programs for key species such as flatfish  Senegalese sole  and gilthead seabream. His work is at the forefront of integrating genomic tools into selective breeding and developing innovative strategies within the blue circular economy and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems. With a strong background in genomics, transcriptomics, and molecular biology, he has played a pivotal role in national and European projects, fostering collaboration between research institutions and the aquaculture sector.

Dr. Manchado’s scientific achievements include over 250 peer-reviewed publications underscoring his impact on fish production and aquaculture genomics acting as scientific advisor of the Spanish Agency for R&D. He was awarded the prestigious XXII Jacumar Award for Research and innovation in aquaculture (2023) by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the advances in  aquaculture sustainability. Additionally, the European Commission's Innovation Radar highlighted his work with two distinctions for high-value aquaculture products. His studies have advanced understanding in areas such as growth-related genomic regions, olfactory specialization in flatfish, and the effects of dietary supplements on fish health, making him a reference in sustainable aquaculture innovation.