Agri4D
SLU is one of four founding members of the research network "Agri4D". The goal of this network is to contribute to "agricultural development and poverty alleviation in developing countries by stimulating the utilisation, and growth, of Swedish research competence".
For more information, please visit Agri4D's website.
Centre for Global Animal Diseases (CGD)
Centre for Global Animal Diseases aims at strengthening the research about and increase the engagement in the field of global animal diseases at SLU's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. The Centre also provides an entrance to SLU regarding issues concerning global contagious animal diseases.
For more information, plase visit CGD's website.
CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research)
CGIAR is an international organization that supports research for development within agriculture (including forestry and veterinary medicine) and natural resources. CGIAR was founded in 1971 through an initiative by FAO, the World Bank and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) in response to famine that was rampant in Latin America and Asia (India and Pakistan) at that time. Today, following a reform process that was initiated in 2008, the New CGIAR is a consortium of 15 large research institutes with their own boards in different countries. In support, there is a Fund Office (serving the CGIAR Donors) which is based at the World Bank, in Washington D.C., USA., and a Consortium Office (serving the Consortium of the 15 centers) which has recently been established at Agropolis International in Montpellier, France.
One important task for CGIAR is to increase the food production in low-income countries, with special consideration taken to environmental problems. There is an emphasis on the impact of CGIAR research and the New CGIAR has three strategic objectives:
1) Food for People: Create and accelerate sustainable increases in productivity and production of healthy food by and for the poor
2) Environment for People: Conserve, enhance, and sustainably use natural resources and biodiversity to improve the livelihoods of the poor in response to climate change and other factors
3) Policies for People: Promote policy and institutional change that will stimulate agricultural growth and equity to benefit the poor, especially rural women and other disadvantaged groups.
Pre-2008 CGIAR institutes acted more or less in isolation of one another. In the New CGIAR, all research is under the umbrella of a Strategic Results Framework , and global Consortium Research Programmes, e.g. GRiSP – Global Rice Science Partnership, and CCAFS – Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, involve several centers as well as Public and Private sector partners.
Sweden, via Sida, is one of the founding donors of CGIAR (since 1973). Sweden currently holds a seat on the New CGIAR Fund Council and is represented on this by Philip Chiverton from SLU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, on a consulting contract with Sida.
For more information, please visit CGIAR's website.
SIFI (The Secretariat for International Forestry Issues)
SIFI is a Think Thank for information about and analysis of international forestry issues, which can provide opportunities or challenges for the Swedish Forestry Sector. SIFI consists of the Committee for International Forestry Issues (KIS) and a secretariat.
The Think Tank, which is mainly funded by SLU and The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA), aims at:
- Gathering relevant information about the surrounding world, and packeting and presenting it for the Swedish Forestry Sector;
- Countinously observing the international frontline in forestry research and education, and make analyses of how Sweden can best contribute to and make use of this;
- Analysing the consequences of conventions and agreements that directly or indirectly have an impact on Sweden's forests and forestry;
- Stimulating debate and present ideas about how Swedish development cooperation with low-income countries in forestry can be strengthened and developed;
- Strengthening the Swedish resource base for all types of positions related to international forestry issues, by means of improved education, increased student mobility and internships, and improved information about the international labour market for forestry students;
- Stimulate discussion about how Sweden can become more competitive commercially when it comes to products and knowledge;
- Promoting the Swedish presence and influence in important fora and institutions, such as FAO, EU, UNFF and CGIAR.
The Secretariat supports the committee by compiling basic data, coordinating meetings, and countinuously informing about questions regarding the surrounding world and the resource base. Attached to the Think Thank is also a work group for development of the resource base, consisting of representatives from different parts of the Forestry Sector.
For more information, please visit SIFI's website.
SOL Development Platform
The "SOL Development Platform", which is an initiative from SLU's Department of Urban and Rural Development, is a cross cutting network for teachers, researchers and practitioners who work with internationalisation and development issues.
For more information, please visit SOL Development Platform's website.
SLU-Global Bioinformatics Centre (SGBC)
The SLU-Global Bioinformatics Centre (SGBC) is an academic research and educational initiative aimed to build long-term successful relationships between the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and life science research communities worldwide in the bioinformatics field.
For more information, please visist SLU-Global Bioinformatics Centre (SGBC) website.
SLU-REDD
The SLU-REDD programme was established 2011 under the framework of SLU Global. ‘REDD’ is the acronym for ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation’. The REDD+ mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is proposed to work through payments from developed countries to developing countries. The mechanism encompasses all measures that contribute to the carbon sink capacity of forests as well as so called safeguards that should, e.g., ensure the sustainability of forestry overall and the conservation of valuable forests.
The SLU-REDD-programme is intended to function as a hub for REDD+ related projects and initiatives within SLU, and also as a means to coordinate and promote SLU’s participation in activities together with other stakeholders.
For more information, please see SLU REDD.