Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

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Sverige
Uppsala
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU is a top ranked university in the fields of life and environmental sciences. We check everything that is written.

SLU is a university with a very important purpose: to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve global sustainable development. At SLU, we engage students in some of the most important issues facing the 21st century, such as global warming, the food crisis, and our dependence on non-renewable energy. Students are encouraged to face these challenges head-on and create a greener, cleaner

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31/08/2026

Kicking off the new year at SLU!

These are some clips from our meet and greet last Thursday in Ultuna, where our new international students met administratives, ambassadors, buddies, the international masters committee and the student union. We’re all so very excited for you to be here and wish you the best for the duration of your stay!

27/08/2026

The Orientation programme is ON! 🎉 First stop: Umeå!

A big, warm welcome to all our new international students! 💚 We’re so happy you’re here – and we hope you’re ready for everything SLU and Umeå have in store for you.

And yes, we know we promised you snow and Northern Lights… We might need a little more time to deliver on those. 😉

Photo: Anna Englund, SLU

27/08/2026

🌱 Northern peatlands hold enormous stores of carbon that have accumulated over thousands of years. But what happens to these carbon stores as the climate changes?

In her doctoral thesis at SLU in Umeå, Antonia Hartmann investigated how different peatland plants influence the exchange of carbon dioxide and methane between peatlands and the atmosphere.

The research shows that vascular plants and mosses have different but complementary roles. Vascular plants, such as sedges and dwarf shrubs, account for most of the photosynthetic carbon dioxide uptake during summer. Sphagnum mosses become active earlier in spring, continue photosynthesising further into autumn and are more efficient at retaining the carbon they take up.

“Mosses grow slowly, but they are very resource-efficient. In this way, they complement the vascular plants by extending the growing season,” says Antonia Hartmann.

The balance between the plant groups could become increasingly important as the climate changes. Warmer and sunnier conditions may favour vascular plants, but some of these plants can also transport methane from the peat into the atmosphere. Sphagnum mosses, meanwhile, can help reduce methane emissions through microorganisms living in the moss.

Read more about the research: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/plants-play-a-bigger-role-in-shaping-the-peatland-climate-balance-than-you-might-think/

Photo: Antonia Hartmann, SLU.

24/08/2026

🌿 Could harvesting reeds help both the Baltic Sea and livestock farming?

A new PhD thesis from SLU suggests that harvesting overgrown reed beds along the Baltic Sea coast could offer benefits on two fronts: supporting healthier coastal ecosystems while also providing a potential source of livestock feed.

PhD student William Ashworth found that reed harvesting can help control dense reed beds, benefit other aquatic plants and, with the right harvesting strategies, support fish populations. Harvesting in July and August also removed around nine kilograms of phosphorus per hectare and year from coastal ecosystems.

The research also explored reed as animal feed. The results suggest that it can be suitable for horses with low energy demands and non-producing dairy cows, although there are limitations – including lower feed intake compared with conventional alternatives.

“If these challenges can be addressed, reed harvesting could become a practical tool for both combating coastal eutrophication and meeting growing demands for livestock feed in a more sustainable way,” says William Ashworth.

🔗 Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/vasskord-kan-ge-dubbel-nytta--friskare-kustmiljoer-och-mer-djurfoder/

20/08/2026

Quinoa can thrive in conditions that would challenge many crops. On the Bolivian Altiplano, at around 4,000 metres above sea level, it faces drought, large temperature fluctuations, intense solar radiation and nutrient-poor soils. But longer periods of drought are threatening yields.

In her new doctoral thesis at SLU, Virginia Gonzales investigated an important but largely invisible part of quinoa’s resilience: the microorganisms living around and inside its roots.

Her research shows that the quinoa genotype strongly influences the bacterial communities found in the roots. A drought-tolerant genotype maintained a more resilient root microbiome during water shortage, while drought had a greater impact on the microbiome of a drought-susceptible genotype.

Virginia also identified native bacteria from the Bolivian Altiplano that could help quinoa grow under drought. Several strains showed promising results, and in field trials one Serratia strain significantly increased both quinoa growth and yield.

The research could support the development of sustainable bioinoculants based on microorganisms that are naturally adapted to local conditions. It also highlights why there is no one-size-fits-all solution: the interaction between the bacterial strain and the quinoa variety can determine how well an inoculant works.

“So it is not enough to find a bacterium that works well. We also need to consider which quinoa variety it will be used with. It is the interaction between the bacterium and the plant that determines how well it works,” says Virginia.

🌾 By making use of quinoa’s natural microbial partners, the research points towards new ways of supporting climate-resilient and locally adapted agriculture.

Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/beneficial-bacteria-can-help-quinoa-withstand-drought/

Photo: Milenka Rivera

19/08/2026

Starting university in a new country comes with a few unavoidable experiences: getting lost, forgetting something important, wondering whether everyone else has magically figured out how university works… and occasionally questioning every life choice that brought you here. 😅

Here’s the good news: you’re allowed to be new at this. You don’t need to know everything in your first week. You don’t need to make your best friends on day one. You don’t need to understand every system, find every building or have your entire future mapped out before your first lecture.

Ask questions. Get things wrong. Introduce yourself even when it feels awkward. Put the deadline in your calendar. (Seriously. Put it in your calendar.)

And remember: every student who looks completely at home on campus was once standing somewhere with Google Maps open, wondering if they were even on the right campus.

Welcome to SLU. You’ll find your way. 💚🌱

18/08/2026

New to SLU and enrolled in one of our international study programmes? 🌍🎓

Join the Orientation Programme and get a great start to your studies and student life at SLU!

During the programme, you’ll receive useful information for international students, meet other new students, and learn more about studying and living in Sweden.

The Orientation Programme includes both online sessions and on-campus activities.

Participation is voluntary, but highly recommended to help you settle in and make the most of your time at SLU.

👉 Register in advance to participate: https://www.slu.se/en/calendar/2026/08/orientation-programme-autumn-2026

We look forward to meeting you - welcome to SLU! 💚

17/08/2026

🐱 Cats are said to have nine lives. But for far too many kittens, life ends within just a few weeks.

Of the more than 11,000 kittens born and registered with SVERAK each year, an estimated 2,500 die during their first weeks of life. And because most cats in Sweden are unregistered, the true number may be even higher.

Why do some kittens die so young – and could some of those deaths be prevented?

In the research project “A cat´s life: infections in kittens and young cats,” researchers at SLU are looking for answers. Between now and 2030, they will investigate potential risk factors, carry out post-mortem examinations, study infections and transmission, and characterise viruses circulating among cats in Sweden.

“If we can identify the factors that increase the risk of kittens dying, particularly during the very first and most vulnerable period of life, we can help create better conditions for more of them to survive,” says Linn Aksén, small-animal veterinarian and doctoral student.

The hope is that the research will lead to better knowledge and guidelines for cat breeders and veterinarians and give more kittens the chance to live a full feline life.

🐾 Read more about the research: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/a-matter-of-life-and-death-for-kittens--research-for-a-full-feline-life/

Photo: Lisa Chröisty, SLU

12/08/2026

🌳 Animals are returning to reforested areas in Madagascar – an encouraging sign for biodiversity.

Using cameras and acoustic recorders, researchers from SLU and the University of Antananarivo found seed-dispersing birds and mammals in young replanted forests at all study sites.

“Most of the reforested areas we studied were quite young. It was therefore especially encouraging to find that several seed-dispersing species, including birds, fruit bats, primates and other mammals, are already using many of these areas. This suggests good prospects for biodiversity in the long term,” says Sheila Holmes, researcher at SLU and senior author of the study.

Attracting seed-dispersing species to restored areas is a key part of bringing the rainforest back to life.

“This study highlights that long-term restoration success depends not only on planting trees, but also on restoring the ecological functions that sustain forest ecosystems,” says Mahefa Andriamavosoloarisoa, PhD student at the University of Antananarivo and lead author of the study.

Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/photos-show-how-species-are-returning-to-reforestation-areas-in-madagascar/

Photo: Sheila Holmes

11/08/2026

🐄 How does a cow experience the world?

Researchers at SLU have published the most comprehensive review to date of existing knowledge on the sensory world of cattle, and the findings could help improve the design of barns, handling systems, and animal environments.

Cattle have panoramic vision but limited depth perception, can hear frequencies beyond the human range, use smell for recognition and social information, and experience touch as both physical and social. They also develop food preferences through experience.

"Cattle experience their surroundings through a rich combination of sensory input, previous experiences, and emotions. What may seem insignificant to us can be highly meaningful to them," says Maria Vilain Rørvang, Associate Professor and lead author of the study.

Read more about the research: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/07/sa-uppfattar-notkreatur-sin-omgivning/

📷 Maria Vilain Rørvang. Photo: Johanna Stenfelt

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