"UD40" - specific funding to SLU from the Swedish Government for food security

UD40 at SLU comprises eleven research projects that are supported by a contribution of 40 million SEK to SLU from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD), within the framework of the Government's special investments in food security 2010.

The Swedish Government's special investments in food security 2010 aims at reducing starvation and malnutrition in a short and medium-long perspective, and at investments  for the future by means of research and development. It is the Government's wish to broaden the commitment in Sweden for development issues, and to collaborate with new stakeholders that can contribute to an increased global food security.  

SLU:s assigmnent in this context is to conduct and implement high-quality research and capacity building within fields such as  plant breeding, farming systems, animal health/welfare and disease control. Geographic focus is on southern Africa, East Africa and Central Asia.

Besides the contribution to SLU, 60 million SEK was allocated by the Government to AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa).

• Project 1: Improved local plant varieties: plant genetics & biotechnology - East Africa
• Project 2: Urban and peri-urban farming
• Project 3: Innovative crop protection
• Project 4: Improved efficiency of animal production in rural areas of Eastern Africa
• Project 5: Diversified and sustainable agro-ecosystems – efficient management of resources and soil fertility
• Project 6: Gender and REDD – Climate change and changing forest governance
• Project 7: Expanding cassava production and accelerating commercialization in Southern Africa – from breeding to product development
• Project 8: Plant breeding and genetic resources - South Africa and Southern Africa
• Project 9: Plant protection/innovative methods for biological control - South Africa
• Project 10: Plant breeding - central Asia
• Project 11: Improved systems for controlling zoonoses