Research

The Centre of Excellence in Animal Welfare Science is a Swedish interdisciplinary research network aiming to strengthen scientific excellence and improve animal welfare. The centre also organises the Annual Animal Welfare Science Symposium in Uppsala.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi – fungi that live in symbiosis with trees – are an important component of biodiversity in northern coniferous forests. The project investigates how their populations develop in sandy pine forests and how they are affected by modern forest management.

Climate change is one of the major environmental challenges of our time and Sweden is already experiencing warmer summers. This project examines whether Scots pine used in forestry are adapted to future climates and how genetic knowledge can guide decisions about which trees should be planted where.

Fishing pressure in the Northeast Atlantic has decreased and fish stocks are recovering. However, a new study shows that the reference level used in fisheries advice gives an overly optimistic assessment of stock status. We risk fishing too intensively before stocks reach a sustainable biomass.

The large rivers that flow through northern Sweden affect how brown bears move through the landscape. When bears reach the riverbank, males and females act differently. This is shown by a study conducted by researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Some people have experienced a loss of taste long after a COVID-19 infection has subsided. Researchers from SLU, Uppsala University and the University of Colorado have shown that this may be due to a disruption in taste cells that would otherwise give rise to experiences of sweet, bitter or umami.

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.