– SLU Global

SLU's mission is to pursue knowledge of biological resources and their sustainable utilization though education and research, as well as environmental monitoring and assessment. This goal relates to several of UN's millenium goals. Researchers, teachers and students at SLU have a long-standing commitment to contribute to poverty alleviation and global development. 

SLU is establishing a programme entitled Agricultural Sciences for Global Development (SLU Global), the aim of which is to coordinate SLU's contribution to the implementation of the Swedish Government's Policy for Global Development (PGD).

Background

About two thirds of the world's poor live in rural areas, and agriculture plays an essential role in their livelihoods. Nevertheless, FAO estimates that nearly one billion people were undernourished in 2010, and the UN millenium goal of a fifty percent reducation by the year 2015 is sadly a very long way from being accomplished.

SLU's core competence is within the agricultural sciences, including forestry and veterinary sciences, and therefore the expertise of our university has a unique and highly relevant role to play in poverty alleviation and food security. Furthermore, SLU's areas of expertise cover other urgent global issues such as energy supply, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and control of infectious diseases in animal and man.

Results of SLU's research are publicly available. This is an important complement and balance to the growing volume of research from the private sector, a large portion of which unfortunately remains outside the public domain. Hence, SLU has a global mission – and this we perform using science and education of documented high quality. 

SLU Global will coordinate, support and inform about SLU-based research, education and other activities within the PDG-context. A novel programme secretariat is under establishment .