International setting
We have doctoral students and researchers from around the globe. Our employees conduct field studies in places such as Greenland, Mongolia, Brazil and Rwanda. We collaborate with researchers from the entire world.
News & Events
News
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Prescribed burns most effective in dry conditions
Prescribed forest burning is often conducted in spring when the ground is moist, but a new PhD thesis from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) shows they are most beneficial for biodiversity during dry conditions. -
Focusing on the root causes of pollinator decline
Europe’s bees, hoverflies and butterflies are under threat – not only from pesticides and habitat loss, but also from deeper, systemic issues such as reluctance to change, silo-thinking and limited translation of positions favourable to multiple pollinators into policy. -
Smarter pest control for faba bean
Faba beans have the potential to replace imported soybeans for plant-based protein products. They are however, threatened by the broad bean beetle. Now, SLU researchers present a new promising, sustainable method to outsmart this insect pest.
Research
Research projects
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Spectro
It has long been hypothesized that species in tropical regions, with their high biodiversity, should have more specialized interactions — an idea known as the latitudinal specialisation gradient. However, this hypothesis remains the subject of ongoing debate. -
Multifunctional crop production systems
To position agriculture within planetary boundaries requires a redesign of crop production systems for multifunctionality, i.e., managing for production of food and feed, as well as for environmental protection, fertility, climate mitigation and adaptation and farm economy. -
Effect of land use on insect ecology
Information on the impacts of land-use on insect diversity and abundances is essential to manage insect biodiversity. In our research we investigate how local and landscape scale management affect insects in agricultural systems.
Research groups
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Biodiversity and biocontrol lab
We perform research on biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. We study the links between biodiversity, food-web structure and service provisioning, and how farming practices and land use at different scales can be modified to support ecosystem services. -
Ninkovic lab
Plants can communicate with each other in different ways including chemical signalling. The aim of our research is to develop sustainable crop protection strategies based understanding of the interactions between plants, insects and their natural enemies. -
Bommarco lab
We study insect and plant ecology in agriculture. We explore how farming practices, land use and climate affect biodiversity and ecosystem functions. We participate in interdisciplinary research on economy policy and transformations of agriculture and food systems.