CBC’s potato research draws Prime Minister’s interest

The Prime Minister  Ulf Kristersson visited SLU Alnarp as part of the government’s initiative to strengthen Swedish food security and innovation in agriculture. The visit highlighted the importance of research centres like SLU Grogrund and SLU Centre for Biological control, which focus on plant breeding, sustainable cultivation methods, and resilient food systems. By engaging directly with researchers, the Prime Minister aimed to learn about ongoing projects, discuss future challenges for the food sector, and showcase the government’s support for science-driven solutions that promote sustainability and competitiveness in Swedish agriculture.

During his visit to SLU Alnarp, the Prime Minister met researchers from the SLU Centre for Biological Control (CBC) and was introduced to CBC’s cutting-edge work on sustainable plant protection.

Managing serious potato threats

Ramesh Vetukuri presented research on biocontrol and Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) for managing potato late blight – one of the most serious threats to potato cultivation worldwide. The Prime Minister showed great interest, asked many questions, and emphasized the importance of CBC’s contribution to developing sustainable solutions for future food production.

– It was very encouraging to see the Prime Minister’s strong interest in our work and in sustainable solutions for potato production. His visit highlights the importance of continued investment in research that supports resilient and climate-smart food systems, says Ramesh Vetukuri, researcher at CBC. 

The visit was part of the government’s announcement of a 10 million SEK investment in Grogrund – the national centre for plant breeding – to strengthen Swedish food security and resilience.