Research

FarmForce aims to strengthen the role of small-scale agroforestry farmers in building resilient, inclusive, and equitable food systems by improving “farm to fork” value chains, with a focus on Ukraine in a context of crisis, recovery, and long-term sustainability.

Large herbivores such as moose and reindeer influence forest biodiversity, but their interaction with forestry and other disturbances is not fully understood. This project investigates how browsing, forestry and fire affect plant, lichen and soil communities over time in boreal forests.

Analysis of soil structure in forest environments often relies on time-consuming and sometimes destructive sampling. This project develops innovative radar systems for non-invasive measurements of soil properties, enabling improved decision-making in forestry and environmental management.

Adam Felton studies how species respond to different forest management approaches, and the societal trade-offs involved. As newly appointed professor of conservation ecology at SLU, he aims to further develop this research.

In the Sargasso Sea, an expedition by the German Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology is underway to provide new insights into the early life of the European eel. By collecting larvae directly in the eel’s spawning area, researchers hope to better understand changes in the population.

The increasing regulatory burden in agriculture creates stress, frustration and costs for many businesses. A new study from SLU highlights how advisers can contribute to simplifying regulations – by serving as a link between farmers and regulatory authorities.

PFAS are harmful chemicals that are hard to break down and can enter our bodies through drinking water. Since drinking water is essential, SLU researchers are developing methods to purify PFAS and prevent them from reaching our water sources.

Ditches are a defining feature of many landscapes. Though often overlooked, they play an essential role in water and soil regulation. As climate change accelerates, understanding how ditches function, and how we manage them, has never been more important.

What assumptions, values ​​and knowledge claims shape different scientific approaches to agricultural sustainability? Five researchers have delved into this question within SLU's Interdisciplinary Academy.