Here you can find the list of plant networks that participated at the Network-to-network meeting in March 2020.
1. Centre for Environment and Climate research LU
Objective
The Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, CEC, is a combined physical and virtual centre at Lund University. CEC conducts research, education and communication on environmental sciences and climate research (https://www.cec.lu.se/about-cec).
Activities
CEC’s mission is to initiate, support and conduct education and research on society’s impact on the natural environment and on societal challenges and possible solutions concerning the environment, climate and sustainable development. CEC is to promote interdisciplinary research and education within climate and environmental issues, highlight and communicate research findings and serve as a link to key stakeholders within its area of operations. CEC activities are therefore of an interdisciplinary nature, based on cooperation between departments across faculty boundaries, and characterised by collaboration with community stakeholders. CEC activities are based on research at the faculty’s departments, while CEC adds further value to the departments’ research.
2. Food Tech Links
Objective
FoodTech Links is an initiative between the SLU- LTV Faculty and Lund University -LTH, with the purpose of connecting the research environments and thereby strengthen food research, education and innovation. The aim is that Food Tech Links will develop into a research network in close interaction with the industry. Researchers from both universities have met in workshops and a joint conference on Food Tech, organised in collaboration with Food Science Sweden and others, which offered good opportunities for doctoral students and researchers to meet and make contacts in the field, together with representatives of innovative food companies. Development of the collaboration requires resources and supportive functions for coordination and communication, and Region Skåne has granted an initial sum of money to set up activities.
Activities
Researchers in plant processing / product quality at SLU and food science/nutrition researchers at LTH have started a dialogue. The focus of the work will be food plants – legumes, vegetables and fruits – where both health and environmental and climate reasons indicate a rise in consumption. There is also need for joint research and development initiatives in digitalisation and other technological developments in the value chain. These market and technology challenges require collaboration between food scientists in various disciplines, which in turn requires coordination and seed money. In the initial stage, Yvonne Granfeldt, LU, and Lena Ekelund Axelson, SLU lead the collaboration.
3. Lantmännen
Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative and Northern Europe’s leader in agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products. Owned by 25,000 Swedish farmers, we have 10,000 employees, operations in over 20 countries and an annual turnover of SEK 45 billion. With research, development and operations throughout the value chain, together we take responsibility from field to fork.
Objective
Lantmännen’s assignment is to contribute to the profitability of our members’ farms and to optimize the return on their capital in Lantmännen.
Activities
We have a long tradition of research and innovations, and invest a total of around SEK 250 million per year on research and development. Investments are made primarily in the grain value chain; from plant breeding and cultivation, to processing, product development and consumption.
The Agriculture sector is Lantmännen’s core business with products and services for a strong and competitive agriculture. The sector includes Lantmännen Maskin. Plant breeding is the start of the value chain and Lantmännen has 10 breeding program located in Sweden and the Netherlands. The Agriculture Division also has operations in Finland through the companies Lantmännen Agro Oy and Lantmännen Feed Oy. The sector is also responsible for Lantmännen’s shareholding in HaGe Kiel, Scandagra Group and Scandagra Polska.
The Energy sector is one of Sweden’s largest producers of bioenergy products and is active on a global market with its main focus on Europe. The sector offers environmentally smart energy, food and industrial products that are produced in a responsible way as well as associated service offerings.
The Food sector develops, produces and markets products such as flour, breakfast products, pasta, frozen and fresh bread, crispbread and ready-made meal concepts. The base is in the Nordic countries but with a presence in some 20 countries. The sector has two business areas, Lantmännen Cerealia and Lantmännen Unibake.
Web page: www.lantmannen.com
4. Lund University Agenda 2030 Graduate School
Lund University Agenda 2030 Graduate School is a cutting-edge research school and collaborative platform for issues related to societal challenges and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. We provide doctoral educations and interdisciplinary PhD courses open for all PhD students of the university and based on the overall issues defined by the UN’s 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The graduate school also acts as a complementary collaborative platform to Lund University Sustainability Forum and arranges activities primarily targeting PhD students but also other internal and external stakeholders. The aim of the activities is to encourage innovative collaborations, to move the research front on societal challenges and to establish the university as a significant player in the global work for a sustainable development.
5. LU BIOECONOMY Graduate Research School
Objectives
BIOECONOMY Graduate Reserach School (GRS) is a transdisciplinary graduate research school at Lund University with an overall aim of developing the competencies necessary for participants to:
- adopt systems approach in order to identify and assess the full range of technological, economic, social and ecological challenges and opportunities in transition to a circular bioeconomy;
- lead the way in innovative inter/trans-disciplinary research and education for a sustainable bioeconomy in the international arena.
More specifically, BIOECONOMY GRS aims to act as a collaborative learning platform at Lund University allowing researchers and Ph.D. students, across faculties/disciplines and research areas, as well as non-academic stakeholders to meet with each other in order to identify, carry out and communicate innovative, analytically advanced and yet problem-oriented education and research for a sustainable future circular bioeconomy covering the whole biomass value chain.
Activities
BIOECONOMY GRS provides the necessary platform for the participating PhD students, researchers and stakeholders to interact with each other through organized courses, seminars, workshops and annual meetings.
More information can be found at www.cec.lu.se/bioeconomy
6. Movium
Objective
Movium Think Tank works with urban development issues at SLU and was established 1980.
Movium develops ideas and develops, compiles and disseminates information, knowledge and opinions. We want to participate in the development of the society by running research projects, arranging courses, publishing publications and participating in the public debate.
We are mainly financed through governmental missions, our partners, SLU and external missions.
Activities
Movium is the meeting place for anyone who works with and sees the city’s outdoor environment as an important resource in the creation of attractive and sustainable cities. Movium Partnership’s network consists of about 80 parties: municipalities, building companies and organizations. Our network meets those who plan, project, hire, manage and research the city’s outdoor environment to discuss experience, external analysis and the need to develop or compile knowledge.
The needs identified by Movium Partnership’s network generate joint-funded research projects.
Movium communicates knowledge about the city’s outdoor environment in many different publications.
We use our contacts with the media, parliament, ministries, government agencies and various advocacy groups to raise the issues of the relevance of the city’s outdoor environment to a sustainable future.
Harald Klein:
Apart from being the coordinator of Movium Partnership, I’m also the coordinator of SLU’s Environmental monitoring and assessment, Built environment program, wherein I have an interest in AI-techniques to monitor vegetation by remote sensing. Also I’m involved in establishing Alnarp as a Development arena for food and cultivation of the future – through: Strengthening education, skills development and formation. Strengthened research and innovation on sustainable food production. The development of test beds, including Alnarp’s agricultural property as an important resource for testing and demonstrating solutions for future food production.
7. Nordgen
Objective
The Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) is a Nordic institute dedicated to the safeguarding and sustainable use of plants, farm animals and forest genetic resources. NordGen contributes to securing the broad diversity of genetic resources linked to food and agriculture.
Activities
This is done through conservation of genetic resources and sustainable facilitated access to genetic diversity as it is important for solving future challenges regarding food security, agricultural productivity, climate change and sustainable environmentally friendly agriculture. In addition, NordGen is responsible for the daily management and operations of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
More information: https://www.nordgen.org/en/
8. NordPlant
Objective
NordPlant is a climate and plant phenomics university hub for sustainable agriculture and forest production in future Nordic climates. Climate change is a global challenge and new plant breeding and protection efforts are urgently needed. Novel methods in plant phenotyping and climate facilities, which is the core of NordPlant, will be central to better understand plant stress responses and to develop advanced and precise methods for rapid screening of plants to identify high-performing ones suitable for the future climate scenarios.
Therfore, five Nordic universities with versatile and complementing research infrastructures have established NordPlant to promote education, research mobility and technological development to meet future challenges in Nordic agriculture and forestry. NordPlant is one out of a total of six Nordic University Hubs funded by NordForsk.
Activities
NordPlant stimulates knowledge-exchange by seminars, site-visits and joint education for PhDs, post docs and researchers. The consortium greatly simplifies the utilization of the world-class high throughput plant phenomics technologies and advanced growth facilities already in place in the Nordic countries. The complementary nature of participating research facilities as well as knowledge at the universities is a hotbed for new ideas leading to joint projects.
This project will also ensure long-term collaborations beyond the running time of NordPlant. In addition, strengthening the knowledge and Nordic competence in this area will be valuable for future development and establishment of new similar and complementing infrastructures for plant phenotyping and controlled environments.
NordPlant addresses a number of focus areas: plant pathogens in new Nordic climate conditions, retained biomass production in climate change, forestry in automated phenotyping, microscopy and plant cell phenomics, modelling including remote sensing and ecosystem modeling and field phenotyping. NordPlant will focus on and especially benefit plants important for the Nordic countries both economically and culturally, namely potato, wheat, oat, Nordic berries, apples, sugar beet and birch.
More information: www.nordplant.org
9. NPPN Network
The name of the organization is Nordic Plant Phenotyping Network. The acronym is: NPPN
Objective
The NPPN is an independent organization, established in 2015 as a part of the public private partnership project entitled 6P: Nordic Public Private Partnership Plant Phenotyping Project and continuing in the 6P2 project, through a grant provided by Nordic Council of Ministers initiative.
The NPPN was established as a long term non-profit organization to promote, enable and enhance the exchange of information among technology providers, plant breeders and plant focused research institutions in the Nordic and Baltic region.
The NPPN aims to become the center of Nordic Plant Phenotyping activities through the facilitation and promotion of information exchange between Nordic research institutions, Nordic plant breeding companies and industry technology providers. Thereby enhancing the dynamic development of high-throughput field phenotyping methodologies, technologies and practical implementation of progress through a focus on end-user involvement and knowledge sharing.
The NPPN also aims to facilitate contact to other international phenotyping networks.
Activities
NPPN is coordinated by the University of Copenhagen Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. Bo Gertsson, Lantmännen, and Jon Arne Dieseth, Graminor, have been elected chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, until 2020. NPPN arranges a yearly workshop with focus on high through put phenotyping, under field conditions. There have also been field days during the summer where plant breeders, researches and technology providers have an opportunity to meet and discuss.
Web page: https://nordicphenotyping.org/
10. Plant Biologicals Network (PBN)
Objective
Plant Biologicals are naturally derived products that can serve as biostimulants, biocontrol agents, resistance inducers or biofertilizers. They derive from naturally occurring microorganisms, plant extracts or other organic matter. Southern Scandinavia houses a number of leading academic institutions prominent in this area of research as well as headquarters or R&D activities for a number of commercial players. The region has the preconditions to become a globally significant technology hub within the development of plant biologicals.
The purpose of the collaboration is to create a knowledge and innovation network in Southern Scandinavia which will establish the region as a significant global plant biologicals hub. PBN shall promote the use of plant biologicals as well as the awareness and knowledge exchange on research, innovation and regulations of plant biologicals. The combined effort will stimulate new business opportunities, improved agricultural production and education, and contribute to solve societal challenges in relation to agricultural production and the environment.
Activities
The Plant Biologicals Network is a non-profit membership-based collaboration. It is led by a steering committee, and the General Meeting for all partners is the highest authority of the network. The network secretariat is located at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. PBN has 9 core members, who are the founders of the network. The core partners are: Bayer, Chr. Hansen, Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Danish Technological Institute,FMC European Innovation Center, Novozymes, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and Aarhus University. Additionally there are at present 10 ordinary members, including e.g. Lund University.
To promote knowledge exchange and collaboration in the area The Plant Biologicals Network organizes an annual symposium, workshops, and study visits to regional R&D fascilities.
More information can be found at www.plantbiologicals.dk where you can also sign up for the newsletter.
11. PlantEd
Objective
The COST Action PlantEd (CA18111) currently gathers more than 340 experts from 36 European countries and another 13 countries beyond Europe, representing a range of disciplines and sectors all with a focus on plant genome editing. With the purpose to coordinate nationally funded research projects, a multitude of stakeholders are working together for four years (2019-2023) to advance the technical forefront, assess the impact on research and breeding, discuss regulatory options, monitor (and potentially influence) public perceptions, and develop a number of outreach and educational activities. A roadmap to guide funding and R&D priorities will further stimulate innovation and international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaborations.
Activities
We organise meetings, facilitate researcher mobility, train young scientists, and influence directly both the plant biotechnology legislation and the framework for funding of plant research in Europe. PlantEd is coordinated from SLU in Alnarp. Check our website (https://plantgenomeediting.eu) and our Twitter (@COST_PlantEd) to stay updated.
12. PlantLink
Objective
PlantLink is a network platform for plant science in Southern Sweden. It was formed in 2011 as an alliance between Lund University (LU) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp (SLU Alnarp) with initial support from the Skåne Regional Council (Region Skåne). Our ambition is to stimulate, unite and promote plant research and higher education in the region.
PlantLink wants to bridge the gap between basic and applied plant research with the objective to provide plants as part of a sustainable plant production for healthy food, future climate, medication, energy and new green materials. PlantLink gathers around 30 research groups and provides a platform for interactions between industry and universities in Southern Sweden as well as in Denmark.
PlantLink strives to increase the interest and competence in plant science through education and information. Our goal is to create an environment that excels plant research and innovation and that leads to dynamic interactions between the universities, private companies and the general public.
Activities
PlantLink is led by a steering committee, appointed by LU and SLU, and activities are executed by director Erik Alexandersson and deputy director Tina D’Hertefeldt. Activities include workshops, seminars, research support in the form of PlantLink seed money, bioinformatics support, support to MSc and PhD education through e.g. ELLS and cooperation with University of Copenhagen, an industrial mentor program, and outreach activities such as the fascination of plants day. PlantLink is paying the membership fee to the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO), SPPS and Plant Biologicals Network (PBN). Information is disseminated by a newsletter 9 times per year, homepage, facebook and twitter account.
More information can be found at www.plantlink.se
13. PROTECTA
PROTECTA is an Innovation Training Network funded by the European Union through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, within the H2020 programme.
Objective
PROTECTA is a doctoral training program delivering innovative trans-sectoral training in oomycete pathology, effector biology, and disease control. Our program runs from 2018-2023 and involves nine academic and industry institutions who will train 14 PhD students across Europe. They are supported by a further nine academic and industry partners.
Activities
PROTECTA aims to develop new and innovative ways to control oomycete diseases across the agriculture, environment, forestry and aquaculture sectors. Study oomycete pathogens and their hosts in multidisciplinary cross-sectoral projects is in focus. Teh network work closely with plant breeding, plant protection and aquaculture companies to translate the results into new crop varieties with durable resistance, new ways to protect fish in aquaculture and new biological control methods to protect agricultural, horticultural, silvicultural and natural ecosystems. Thus, it contributes to reducing European dependence on chemical pesticides, and to the implementation of the mandatory EU directive on integrated pest management in Europe.
More information: http://protecta-itn.eu/
14. Pufendorf ASG Species and Alien Species
Objective
Due to the recent focus on invasive alien species, plants are now at the centre of a new public debate. In line with this development, the first Swedish list of invasive alien species was published this year. The Advanced Study Group “Species and Alien Species” aims to put the list of invasive alien species in a societal context. The objective is to discuss invasiveness as a phenomenon and investigate how, why, and by whom, plants are defined as invasive
Activities
The Advanced Study Group examines how public institutions and different experts perceive exotic and indigenous plants in private gardens, public gardens and in “nature”. The vision of the ASG is to develop a framework based on a set of interdisciplinary-based aspects to provide a scientifically sound basis for decisions and measures on the use of decorative plants and wild plants, with Sweden as a case study. It is important that a project about invasive alien species combines knowledge from several different disciplines, as what is perceived as and considered alien or not depends on temporal, geographical and social factors.
More information: https://www.pi.lu.se/en/activities/asg-species-and-alien-species
The ASG will be followed up by a Pufendorf Theme on the plant Paradox, starting autumn 2020:
https://www.pi.lu.se/en/article/new-themes-and-advanced-study-groups-2020-2021
15. Pufendorf Theme CRISPRideas
Objectives
The development of new gene editing techniques, such as CRISPR-Cas9, has started a revolution in biological and medical research. They provide opportunities to make precise and targeted changes in the genome of all kinds of organisms, from microorganisms to humans. In plant breeding, there is hope for development of new crops better adapted to climate change.
In medicine, these techniques are expected to provide new opportunities for diagnosing and treating serious disorders, but they can also create heritable changes in the human genome. Thus, the development of gene editing technologies raise many ethical, social and legal concerns. How these techniques should be used and regulated is ultimately an issue for the entire society to decide and requires a broad and inclusive debate, where different voices are heard.
Activities
The CRISPRideas Theme intends to follow and analyze this societal debate, how it has historically evolved and what factors have influenced the various approaches and attitudes. Given the opportunities and risks of new gene editing technologies, we will use comparative analyzes of the debate, especially in the Nordic countries, but also globally. We will investigate how scientific knowledge, values and norms have impacted the understanding and views of experts, the general public and various stakeholders (https://www.pi.lu.se/en/activities/crisprideas).
16. Region Skåne
Objective
Together with the municipalities, institutes of higher education, organisations and the business community, Region Skåne operates on a broad front to support health, development and sustainable growth in Skåne.
Activities
Skåne has a regional food strategy, ”Smart Mat 2030”. In order to support the implementation of the strategy the Department of Regional Development performs activities such as:
- Fostering arenas for collaboration
- Support to projects and initiatives
- Analysis and evaluation
For more information, please visit https://utveckling.skane.se/
17. Scanoats
Objective
Oat is a strategic crop for both the Swedish agriculture and the food industry. The Industrial Research Centre ScanOats has been created to coordinate industrial needs with academic research in plant breeding, crop management, food processing, nutrition and food science – all with oat in focus.
ScanOats is unique in its concept to link the entire chain from breeding and agriculture to product development and beneficial health effects. This integrative structure will foster entrepreneurship on the basis of scientific discoveries.
ScanOats is an Industrial Research Centre funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF.
Activities
Five academic institutions are involved in the centre: Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Food for Health Science Centre, Lund University, Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish Agricultural University (SLU-Alnarp), Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University and Swedish Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (JTI), Skara.
The companies involved have a great overall knowledge of marketing and sales, and has distribution channels in Sweden and internationally, which means that new products efficiently can reach consumers worldwide. The companies also provide resources in the form of facilities for pilot plants, scale-up and quality laboratories, as well as economical funding of the research. Additionally, around 80 corporate members within the agricultural sector are linked to SLU Alnarp which enables close contact with the cultivation of oats.
If you want to know more, you are welcome to contact us.
To keep updated, you can also sign up for our monthly newsletter and follow us on Twitter @scanoats
18. SITES Lönnstorp
SITES Lönnstorp is one of nine research stations included in a national research infrastructure for terrestrial and limnological ecosystem research, with funding from the Swedish Research Council. https://www.fieldsites.se/en-GB
Objective
The aim of SITES is to promote and support long-term field based terrestrial and limnological ecosystem research of world class. SITES achieves this by offering a unique infrastructure with excellent technical and scientific support, attracting both national and international researchers.
Activities
In 2016, a new field facility, SITES Agroecological Field Experiment (SAFE), was established at SITES Lönnstorp to facilitate research regarding future cropping systems. SAFE consists of four cropping systems (conventional, organic, perennial cereals and agroforestry), each replicated in four blocks. The facility can be used within many different subjects, e.g. plant and soil ecology, biogeochemistry and agroecology. It is also possible to establish smaller experiments within the facility. More info about SAFE can be found here: https://www.slu.se/en/departments/biosystems-technology/research-facilites/lonnstorp/safe-sites-agroecological-field-experiment/
19. SLU Global
Objective
SLU Global is a unit at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office that supports and facilitates the university’s efforts to collaborate with low-income countries and regions (https://www.slu.se/en/collaboration/international/slu-global/about-SLU-Global/).
In 2015, the United Nations member states committed to Agenda 2030 with its 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to tackle the global challenges and transform our world. The Agenda is universal and indivisible, and eradicating poverty and leaving no one behind are at its core. It is closely connected to several international agreements including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Activities
SLU, with its mission to develop knowledge and capacity for sustainable management and use of the biological natural resources through research, education and environmental monitoring, has an important role to play in the global implementation of Agenda 2030. SLU’s international engagement spans more than half a century and is aligned with Sweden’s Policy for Global Development.
In 2019 SLU’s Vice-Chancellor decided on a new policy for SLU’s contribution to the global implementation of Agenda 2030.
20. SLU Grogrund – Centre for Breeding of Food Crops
Objective
SLU Grogrund is a national competence center for plant breeding. It was formed in 2018 by the Swedish government in order to contribute to the goals in the Swedish food strategy: increased food production and competitiveness at the Swedish farms. This is done by running projects where academia and industry are brought together to develop competences and methods within plant breeding that will ensure the accessibility of plant varieties for sustainable agricultural and horticultural production. These innovations will be used by the Swedish food industry to face future challenges and requirements, such as an increased population, climate change and new consumer trends.
Activities
SLU Grogrund is a virtual center where most activities are carried out within different projects all over Sweden. The programme is led by director Eva Johansson, while the overall organisational responsibility is placed on the dean of the LTV faculty in SLU Alnarp. The programme portfolio during 2019 consisted of 13 different projects. Most of the projects are coordinated from either SLU Alnarp or SLU Ultuna, but all projects are characterised by a high level of involvement by industry partners. Totally 26 companies, organisations and universities were active in the projects during 2019. The industry is also involved in SLU Grogrund via the steering group, where the future development of the programme is outlined by representatives from industry, society and academia.
Joint activities for the whole SLU Grogrund include workshops, participation in events (e.g. Borgeby fältdagar and the Almedalen Week), a research school, and undergraduate education. By this, SLU Grogrund wishes to contribute to an increased competence, interest and awareness of plant breeding-related issues and how they link to food production and consumption in Sweden.
21. SLU Partnerskap Alnarp / SLU Partnership Alnarp
Objective
SLU Partnership Alnarp is a collaborative organisation between SLU in Alnarp and the business community, public authorities and industry organisations in southern Sweden. The platform has been active since 2004, with a focus on agriculture, forestry and horticulture.
The purpose of SLU Partnership Alnarp is to contribute to the development and competitiveness of the green industries, while strengthening research and education at SLU. Via SLU Partnership Alnarp, it is easier to participate in development, gain inspiration, and create networks and personal contacts with researchers, teachers and students.
For industry and society, SLU Partnership Alnarp enables access to scientific knowledge and individual researchers, as well as to students, who are their future colleagues, customers and suppliers. It also strengthens the educations’ connection to work life, through the creation of meaningful collaboration between SLU, industry and society. The activity of SLU Partnership Alnarp also strengthens SLU’s position and connection to its societal context and allows a focus on solutions to concrete problems.
Activities
The activities carried out are R&D projects, funded together by both university and partner organizations; meeting places such as seminars, workshops and field excursions; student thesis projects and mentorship program. All of which can be funded by SLU Partnership Alnarp.
SLU Partnership Alnarp allows both researchers and partners to gain and send out information of their interest, which builds the understanding and knowledge of other actors. The various meetings and activities of SLU Partnership Alnarp, allow for networking and individual contact making. This gives rise to new ideas and opens new research areas, where the possibility of funding early steps is valuable.
Currently, SLU Partnership Alnarp has around 90 partner organizations, ranging from small firms to large businesses and authorities. SLU Partnership Alnarp consists of a board, a working committee with an operating manager – Carl-Otto Swartz, and six subject groups. The aim of the subject groups is to constitute a meeting place and a discussion forum between the partners and researchers at SLU. The subject groups are Animal Production, Crop Production, Horticulture, Biobased Industrial Raw Materials, Marketing & Management; and Forestry. Information is disseminated by a newsletter 10 times per year, homepage and a facebook business page.
More information can be found at www.slu.se/partnerskapalnarp (only in swedish)
22. SLU Platform Plant Protection & SLU Platform Plant Breeding
Objective
Research and education within plant protection and plant breeding is taking place at several of SLU’s departments and faculties. The mission of the cross-faculty subject areas plant breeding and plant protection (SLU Platform Plant Protection and SLU Platform Plant Breeding) is to stimulate and support collaboration between personnel located at SLU’s various sites and faculties as well as to strengthen SLU’s profile outside SLU (in plant protection) or internationally (in plant breeding). These platforms can basically be seen as two networks with a focus on SLU. The participating faculties are the Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science(LTV), the Faculty of Forest Sciences (S) and the Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences (NJ).
Activities
The platforms were established in 2014 and will finish in the end of 2020. Both have a committee with two members from each faculty that is leading each platform and a coordinator who is taking care of dissemination activities (website, newsletter, email-group) and that the planned activities are implemented. Activities include workshops, research funding or seed money, focus groups (plant protection only), PhD-student courses (plant breeding only), international study visits or symposia (plant breeding only), travel grants (plant breeding only), development of routines for plant genetic resources (plant breeding only), and reports. In 2020, SLU Platform Plant Protection is also coordinating activities around the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH 2020) at SLU.
More information:
www.slu.se/platformplantbreeding
www.slu.se/platformplantprotection
23. Växtnoden
Vi vill etablera Växtnoden – en oberoende kunskapsnod för växtförädlingens mål, metoder och bidrag till samhällets utveckling. Syftet är att stödja vetenskapligt underbyggda beslut och ökad systemförståelse hos politiker, myndigheter, näringsliv och andra organisationer om hur utvecklingen och användningen av växtförädlingens metoder kan bidra till att svara upp mot de globala målen för hållbar utveckling, SDG målen.
Objective
Växtnoden is meant to become an independent knowledge hub on targets and methods for plant breeding and its contributions to the development of society. The objective is to support scientifically based decisions and increased system-understanding of politicians, authorities, industries and other organisations on how development and application of the methods of plant breeding can contribute to meet Sustainable Development Goals. The ambition is to increase the understanding for a modernization of EU regulations in this field.
Växtnoden will respect the different positions taken in respect of modern methods of plant breeding, but also the understanding of the need to base these on solid facts.
Activities
Växtnoden will target Swedish MEPs and members of the Swedish Parliament; decision makers in authorities, industries and organisations with activities influencing the Swedish food chain; and scientific editors in media.
Activities will include
- Dialogues on bilateral basis
- Illustration of problems and needs where plant breeding can contribute
- Source of information on results of research on modern plant breeding, current applications, international development, initiatives from NGOs, priorities of plant breeding industries, etc.
- Mediation of contacts with experts
- News letter
- Smaller seminars or round-tables in collaboration with one or several members of the target group.
Växtnoden is initiated by KSLA with support from SLU, KVA, IVA and Fysiografen. Main funding of Växtnoden is still pending. Its steering committee is chaired by Lisa Sennerby Forsse. Project leader: Annika Åhnberg. Other members of the project group: Anders Nilsson, Anna Lehrman, Dennis Eriksson and Jens Sundström.
For further information contact members of the project group. A website will be established when funding has been secured.
24. Lund University Plant Sciences
Objectives
Lund University Plant Sciences (LUPS) is a work group and interaction platform for all plant-related researchers at Lund University. Main participating groups belong to the Departments of Biology (Molecular Plant Biology and Ecology), Applied Biochemistry (LTH) and the Department of Chemistry. The goal is to stimulate closer interaction, joint projects and discussion of issues concerning plant sciences across LU.
Activities
Our main activities include monthly or two-monthly meetings where matters of general concern are discusses and LUPS members present their latest work in a seminar series. We have also created a LUPS website, which should make it easier for staff and outsiders to follow plant-related activities at LU and find relevant contacts.