SLU's Future Platforms

Forest, food, health and urban landscapes. SLU's Future Platforms stimulate cross-disciplinary efforts to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

The mission of the Future Platforms

The Future Platforms integrate different scientific fields and their activities are characterized by an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach, which is carried out across all faculties and in collaboration with relevant social actors. Complex scientific questions can therefore be tackled in a multifaceted way.

SLU Future Food

Stimulates and develops cross-disciplinary research and collaboration for economically, ecologically and socially sustainable food systems.

Scenic surroundings and a person squatting in the background.

SLU Future One Health

Our starting point is the One Health perspective, the interaction between animal, human and ecosystem health.

SLU Urban Futures

We live in an increasingly urbanised world. How do we create ecologically, economically and socially sustainable urban landscapes?

SLU Future Forests

The role of forests for sustainable development, a biobased economy, climate adaptation and ecosystem services.

Interdisciplinarity at SLU

One of the most important goals for the Future Platforms is to develop interdisciplinary working methods at SLU by initiating and enabling collaboration across scientific disciplinary boundaries.

News from the Future Platforms

  • 2025-12-10

    Tracking climate shocks to build future resilience

    What can past climate extremes teach us about resilience? Researchers at SLU’s Interdisciplinary Academy (IDA) are studying long-term data on climate, farming, soils, and society to uncover patterns that could help us adapt to future challenges.
  • 2025-12-08

    Today’s energy choices redraw the landscape of the future

    Sweden’s energy demand could double by 2035, according to forecasts from the Swedish Energy Agency. As fossil sources are replaced by renewables, energy previously extracted underground must now be produced above ground – a transition to leave visible marks on the landscape.
  • 2025-12-08

    Artistic approaches offer new ways to understand Stockholm’s waterscapes

    A forthcoming scientific article – developed with seed funding from SLU Urban Futures to strengthen interdisciplinary writing, communication, and capacity-building across SLU – examines how artistic perspectives are reshaping Stockholm’s waterscapes.
  • 2025-12-05

    Record investment at SLU to improve fish welfare worldwide

    The major research grant offers a unique opportunity to accelerate efforts for better fish welfare, both in Sweden and globally.
  • 2025-12-03

    Insects could provide comfort for future space travellers

    Animals that accompanied long sea voyages in the past offered far more than food – they provided comfort and helped create routines for sailors. Insects could play a similar role on future space missions.

Calendar

Calls for funding

Open calls for funding and seed money from the Future Platforms.