Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Hem
Sverige
Uppsala
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU is a top ranked university in the fields of life and environmental sciences. We check everything that is written.

SLU is a university with a very important purpose: to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve global sustainable development. At SLU, we engage students in some of the most important issues facing the 21st century, such as global warming, the food crisis, and our dependence on non-renewable energy. Students are encouraged to face these challenges head-on and create a greener, cleaner

and more sustainable world. Rules for social media comments

We want everyone who visits our social media to have a pleasant and engaging experience. Therefore, everyone participating in discussions on our social media platforms must treat each other with respect. These rules are intended to create a constructive, respectful and welcoming atmosphere for conversation. All comments should comply with Swedish law and maintain a friendly and respectful tone. Anyone who breaks these rules may be suspended from commenting. Comments suspected of breaking the law are reported to the police. In the event of a police report, we will provide all the information that may help the police in tracing the case. Comments should be on the topic of the post. Comments that take the discussion off-topic may be removed. The following are not allowed in comments:

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24/08/2026

🌿 Could harvesting reeds help both the Baltic Sea and livestock farming?

A new PhD thesis from SLU suggests that harvesting overgrown reed beds along the Baltic Sea coast could offer benefits on two fronts: supporting healthier coastal ecosystems while also providing a potential source of livestock feed.

PhD student William Ashworth found that reed harvesting can help control dense reed beds, benefit other aquatic plants and, with the right harvesting strategies, support fish populations. Harvesting in July and August also removed around nine kilograms of phosphorus per hectare and year from coastal ecosystems.

The research also explored reed as animal feed. The results suggest that it can be suitable for horses with low energy demands and non-producing dairy cows, although there are limitations – including lower feed intake compared with conventional alternatives.

“If these challenges can be addressed, reed harvesting could become a practical tool for both combating coastal eutrophication and meeting growing demands for livestock feed in a more sustainable way,” says William Ashworth.

🔗 Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/vasskord-kan-ge-dubbel-nytta--friskare-kustmiljoer-och-mer-djurfoder/

20/08/2026

Quinoa can thrive in conditions that would challenge many crops. On the Bolivian Altiplano, at around 4,000 metres above sea level, it faces drought, large temperature fluctuations, intense solar radiation and nutrient-poor soils. But longer periods of drought are threatening yields.

In her new doctoral thesis at SLU, Virginia Gonzales investigated an important but largely invisible part of quinoa’s resilience: the microorganisms living around and inside its roots.

Her research shows that the quinoa genotype strongly influences the bacterial communities found in the roots. A drought-tolerant genotype maintained a more resilient root microbiome during water shortage, while drought had a greater impact on the microbiome of a drought-susceptible genotype.

Virginia also identified native bacteria from the Bolivian Altiplano that could help quinoa grow under drought. Several strains showed promising results, and in field trials one Serratia strain significantly increased both quinoa growth and yield.

The research could support the development of sustainable bioinoculants based on microorganisms that are naturally adapted to local conditions. It also highlights why there is no one-size-fits-all solution: the interaction between the bacterial strain and the quinoa variety can determine how well an inoculant works.

“So it is not enough to find a bacterium that works well. We also need to consider which quinoa variety it will be used with. It is the interaction between the bacterium and the plant that determines how well it works,” says Virginia.

🌾 By making use of quinoa’s natural microbial partners, the research points towards new ways of supporting climate-resilient and locally adapted agriculture.

Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/beneficial-bacteria-can-help-quinoa-withstand-drought/

Photo: Milenka Rivera

19/08/2026

Starting university in a new country comes with a few unavoidable experiences: getting lost, forgetting something important, wondering whether everyone else has magically figured out how university works… and occasionally questioning every life choice that brought you here. 😅

Here’s the good news: you’re allowed to be new at this. You don’t need to know everything in your first week. You don’t need to make your best friends on day one. You don’t need to understand every system, find every building or have your entire future mapped out before your first lecture.

Ask questions. Get things wrong. Introduce yourself even when it feels awkward. Put the deadline in your calendar. (Seriously. Put it in your calendar.)

And remember: every student who looks completely at home on campus was once standing somewhere with Google Maps open, wondering if they were even on the right campus.

Welcome to SLU. You’ll find your way. 💚🌱

18/08/2026

New to SLU and enrolled in one of our international study programmes? 🌍🎓

Join the Orientation Programme and get a great start to your studies and student life at SLU!

During the programme, you’ll receive useful information for international students, meet other new students, and learn more about studying and living in Sweden.

The Orientation Programme includes both online sessions and on-campus activities.

Participation is voluntary, but highly recommended to help you settle in and make the most of your time at SLU.

👉 Register in advance to participate: https://www.slu.se/en/calendar/2026/08/orientation-programme-autumn-2026

We look forward to meeting you - welcome to SLU! 💚

17/08/2026

🐱 Cats are said to have nine lives. But for far too many kittens, life ends within just a few weeks.

Of the more than 11,000 kittens born and registered with SVERAK each year, an estimated 2,500 die during their first weeks of life. And because most cats in Sweden are unregistered, the true number may be even higher.

Why do some kittens die so young – and could some of those deaths be prevented?

In the research project “A cat´s life: infections in kittens and young cats,” researchers at SLU are looking for answers. Between now and 2030, they will investigate potential risk factors, carry out post-mortem examinations, study infections and transmission, and characterise viruses circulating among cats in Sweden.

“If we can identify the factors that increase the risk of kittens dying, particularly during the very first and most vulnerable period of life, we can help create better conditions for more of them to survive,” says Linn Aksén, small-animal veterinarian and doctoral student.

The hope is that the research will lead to better knowledge and guidelines for cat breeders and veterinarians and give more kittens the chance to live a full feline life.

🐾 Read more about the research: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/a-matter-of-life-and-death-for-kittens--research-for-a-full-feline-life/

Photo: Lisa Chröisty, SLU

12/08/2026

🌳 Animals are returning to reforested areas in Madagascar – an encouraging sign for biodiversity.

Using cameras and acoustic recorders, researchers from SLU and the University of Antananarivo found seed-dispersing birds and mammals in young replanted forests at all study sites.

“Most of the reforested areas we studied were quite young. It was therefore especially encouraging to find that several seed-dispersing species, including birds, fruit bats, primates and other mammals, are already using many of these areas. This suggests good prospects for biodiversity in the long term,” says Sheila Holmes, researcher at SLU and senior author of the study.

Attracting seed-dispersing species to restored areas is a key part of bringing the rainforest back to life.

“This study highlights that long-term restoration success depends not only on planting trees, but also on restoring the ecological functions that sustain forest ecosystems,” says Mahefa Andriamavosoloarisoa, PhD student at the University of Antananarivo and lead author of the study.

Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/photos-show-how-species-are-returning-to-reforestation-areas-in-madagascar/

Photo: Sheila Holmes

11/08/2026

🐄 How does a cow experience the world?

Researchers at SLU have published the most comprehensive review to date of existing knowledge on the sensory world of cattle, and the findings could help improve the design of barns, handling systems, and animal environments.

Cattle have panoramic vision but limited depth perception, can hear frequencies beyond the human range, use smell for recognition and social information, and experience touch as both physical and social. They also develop food preferences through experience.

"Cattle experience their surroundings through a rich combination of sensory input, previous experiences, and emotions. What may seem insignificant to us can be highly meaningful to them," says Maria Vilain Rørvang, Associate Professor and lead author of the study.

Read more about the research: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/07/sa-uppfattar-notkreatur-sin-omgivning/

📷 Maria Vilain Rørvang. Photo: Johanna Stenfelt

10/08/2026

As wildfires and extreme heat spread across southern Europe this summer, SLU postdoctoral researcher Daniela Robles explains why such events are becoming more frequent, and what this means for drought and fire risk in Sweden.

https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/07/warmer-drier-more-flammable-what-climate-change-means-for-swedens-forests/

22/07/2026

🌿 Spend a summer day at SLU!

Long evenings. Green campuses. Coffee breaks in the sunshine. It’s summer at SLU.

Whether you're joining us this autumn or dreaming about studying in Sweden one day, here's what you can look forward to:

- Beautiful campuses surrounded by nature
- Cycling everywhere
- Swedish fika with new friends
- Peaceful study spots indoors and outdoors
- An international community passionate about creating a sustainable future

We can't wait to welcome students from around the world to SLU.

Photo: Malin Grönborg, Mårten Svensson, Jenny Svennås-Gillner, Theres Svensson

18/07/2026

Wondering what to expect for student housing in Sweden? Here’s a quick tour of where I live right next to campus in Uppsala!

If you’re like me and pay tuition, you are guaranteed housing through one of the student housing companies; if you don’t pay student fees, you can get in a housing queue.

I have my own furnished room and bathroom and share with seven other people for the two years I am studying in Sweden. I prioritized living close to campus and having a private toilet, but there are lots of options depending on what you’re looking for.

Have any questions about housing or student life? Drop them below! 👇

//Andy

Adress

Box 7070
Uppsala
75651

Telefon

+4618671000

Webbplats

https://www.slu.se/en/study/

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