Department of Energy and Technology

Agriculture and forestry play a key role in the transition from fossil to renewable energy. At the department, we conduct research in the area of bioenergy with a focus on how agricultural and forestry biomass can be used efficiently and sustainably to produce, e.g. gas, electricity and heat, and how these energy systems can interact, so-called sector coupling. We also study the improvement and efficiency of technical processes and management systems and analyse climate and environmental effects, e.g. with life cycle assessment (LCA).

Our vision is to use all organic waste from the food chain and upgrade its quality to produce safe valuable resources for sustainable food production. Simultaneously with the waste being upgraded to valuable resources, the negative environmental impacts can also be minimized. Our work looks towards upgrading wastes such as toilet waste, food waste, animal manure, crop residues, etc. into value-added end products while simultaneously minimizing their environmental impact.

By combining expertise in digitalisation, machine learning, robotics, automation, and agricultural science, we aim to enhance productivity, sustainability, and efficiency in both crop and livestock farming. These innovations enable precision tasks such as surveying, 3D scanning, and field operations, while optimizing decision making and reducing environmental impact. By integrating AI, robotics, machine learning and data analytics approaches, our research advances the future of smart farming, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring food security.

Agriculture produces food, energy and other raw materials and is a vital part of the social system. Of great importance is also the potential of agriculture to deliver ecosystem services and function as a carbon sink. At the same time, production needs to be sustainable in the long term and the use of finite resources minimized. Our research has a consistent systems perspective and the method base is systems analysis and environmental systems analysis. Fossil-free and climate neutrality are some of the goals we are working towards. We work on a large number of projects in the area. We work on a large number of projects in the area and in principle always in collaboration with other researchers and/or stakeholders

Well-functioning and sustainable food supply systems are of paramount importance to society. Our research has a comprehensive systems perspective and the methodological basis is ffa systems analysis and environmental systems analysis (usually using LCA methodology). Part of our activities work with indicators that provide the opportunity to quantify and follow up changes in the sustainability of the systems. It is also important that food systems are not sensitive to disturbances of various kinds. Food is expensive to produce and production also causes extensive impact on the environment and climate. This means that the amount of food or food raw materials that are never consumed, the so-called food waste, must be minimized. Furthermore, the development of smart logistics systems is important for the overall efficiency of food systems.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a powerful method for analyzing resource consumption and environmental impacts caused by a product or process during its entire life cycle. We have a comprehensive body of research based on applications of LCA. We are also working to develop the LCA methodology so that it becomes more powerful and accurate when analyzing biological production systems. The goal of the research can be to map resource consumption and environmental impacts of an existing production system, but also be part of the process of developing a new product or system. We work with systems whose main task is to produce food and/or energy, but also different types of biomaterials. We also work with systems that take care of or minimize waste and wastage.

Mathematics and statistics play an important role for modelling and analysis within several research areas at SLU. This is reflected also in the research within the group, with areas like statistical methodology for environmental monitoring data, estimation of extreme values for problems arising in hydrology, survey sampling and estimation, methodology from machine learning for improved estimation in regression models. Moreover, the group is active in undergraduate as well as postgraduate education. Statistical consultations for researchers at SLU are performed and a vital part of the activities.

Today’s food waste and by-products should be regarded as valuable resources. When used in new food products and fish feed, their climate impact can be reduced by up to 90 per cent – while significantly easing pressure on land, water and biodiversity. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis from SLU.

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.

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.

A new study by Aureo Aparecido Abreu Junior, PhD student at SLU and within Trees For Me, and his research colleagues shows that improved birch used for long-lived wood products provides greater climate benefits than all products from naturally regenerated birch, in Southern Sweden.

In a changing world, one thing stays constant: we all need toilets. Sanitation protects our health and keeps our environment clean. World Toilet Day 2025, on 19 November, highlights “Sanitation in a changing world” and the need for future-ready systems and services. Check out SLU’s contribution!