SLU is a key player for research and education in climate-related areas. © SLU Archives

Knowledge for a sustainable future

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Agriculture, forestry and land use issues are of utmost importance in global climate change agreements. As a major source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), they have huge potential to reduce emissions through reduced deforestation and changes in land use and agricultural practices. According to the emissions inventories submitted to the UNFCCC, agriculture accounts for 15% of global GHGs. Its global contribution reaches between a quarter and a third of total GHGs with the addition of the estimated emissions from deforestation in developing countries (caused by forests being chopped down to make room for fields).

Scientific evidence about the seriousness of the climate threat to agriculture is now unambiguous, although the exact magnitude is uncertain because of the complex interactions and feedback processes in the ecosystem and in the economy.

Answers in research

SLU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, is a key player for research and education in several related areas. The Life Sciences division incorporates the living conditions of people, other organisms and ecosystems – and how we best manage and utilise our natural resources, today and in the future. “Thus, our main mission is to conduct high quality research that leads to a sustainable development of societies and contributes to the increased growth and quality of life,” says Lisa Sennerby Forsse, Vice-Chancellor at SLU.

Close to three quarters of SLU’s budget is devoted to research, which is reflected in the educational programmes offered by the university. In addition to basic research, SLU pursues problem-oriented activities governed by the needs of its sectors nationally and worldwide. One third of all biological research in Sweden is conducted at SLU. This includes a large number of professional programmes, such as veterinarians, landscape architects and foresters, as well as advanced studies at master and PhD-levels and attracts students from all over the world.

The Future Forest research programme at SLU focuses on the interaction between production, recreation and environmental aspects on forestry. © SLU Archives

Forestry, animals and food

SLU has four faculties located from north to south of Sweden: The northernmost campus in Umeå is home of the Faculty of Forest Sciences, where forest educations and most of the forest-related research is conducted. This includes, among other things, a comprehensive, international research programme “Future Forest” with focus on how to make various demands, such as fibre and wood production, energy, recreation and environmental aspects interact in a sustainable way. Umeå is also the home of UPSC (Umeå Plant Science Centre) and the Berzelii Centre in Forest Biotechnology, two major research investments with world class quality science.

In Uppsala, SLU has advanced research projects focusing on food science, economics, plants, animals and microorganisms of relevance to agriculture and forestry, especially regarding climate effects. The “BioCenter” is a world-leading research environment for bio-molecular and bio-technology work including microbiology. The Ecology and Crop production cluster conducts research in ecology, ecosystem services, biodiversity in relation to agriculture as well as production of bio-energy crops. In particular it is carrying out a major research programme on future agriculture including new and improved crops, climate neutral animal husbandry and invading pathogens and diseases focus on studies of mitigation and adaptation to climate change in agriculture.

	SLU is top-ranked in a number of areas in veterinary medicine. © SLU Archives

SLU is top-ranked in a number of areas in veterinary medicine, including infection biology, which is of great significance both to livestock production and human health – not least from a global perspective, where zoonoses are a growing problem. Reproductive biology is another key area, with particular importance placed on environment-related reproductive toxicology. SLU also has a strong international profile in animal welfare research.

At the southernmost campus in Alnarp, one of the many research groups is working on a world-wide biotechnology project to replace fossil oil with renewable plant oil to produce lubricants and plastics from rape and other oil plants. Research is also conducted in chemical ecology/sensory biology, aimed at limiting the impact of noxious insects on agricultural land, gardens and forests, and with better understanding of insect communication systems.

SLU researchers cooperate with a multitude of national government agencies. In collaboration with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, SLU runs a number of research projects in various developing countries, for example. A number of forestry businesses collaborate with SLU on various projects, such as StoraEnso and Sveaskog.

“Agriculture can help mitigate climate change. If fundamental climate change mitigation and adaptation goals are to be met, international climate negotiations must include agriculture. SLU’s mission is the foundation for long-term, sustainable development. We address the changes taking place in the world and we contribute to the knowledge necessary for sustainable production and management systems based on our natural resources.” says Lisa Sennerby Forsse.

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
W: www.slu.se