Food security and soil health amidst a changing climateAs we look forward to the upcoming Christmas break, a time to relax and enjoy quality moments with family and friends, we also turn our focus to important issues in food security and soil health amidst a changing climate. Healthy soils, rich in biodiversity, are essential for creating a sustainable food system. In this newsletter, we highlight some ongoing SLU research on soil health and present new impact briefs that address food security challenges in the Global South, along with much more. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been in touch with us this year and we hope to see you again in 2025 – don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or suggestions for ways to collaborate. 'One Health Updates' is now taking a Christmas break and will return with the next edition in February.
We wish you all a healthy and joyful Christmas! //Greetings from SLU Future One Health
Enjoy your reading! | | | | | | |
We depend on land for our survival.
Yet, we treat it like dirt. – United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres From UNCCD COP 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 to 13 December 2024. | | | | | | | A new dissertation within One Health Congrats to Wiebke Mareile Heinze! | Hi Wiebke, who are you and what is your research about?"My name is Wiebke Mareile Heinze, and I recently defended my PhD in soil science. My research focuses on how microplastics spread to agricultural soils and their transport within the soil. Understanding this helps us grasp their spatial distribution and potential exposure of ecosystems. By improving our knowledge of the primary inputs of microplastics to soil and their transport within and between ecosystems, my research contributes to the One Health concept, highlighting soil health as integral to human health." Photo: Elin Wärm, SLU | | | | | | Insights from SLU’s Climate Conversations – Food security in focus amid climate changeFour years ago, SLU's Future Platforms, together with SLU Global, initiated the Climate Conversations –
a webinar series for SLU staff to increase the scientific dialogue about climate change across disciplines. We asked Paul Egan, coordinator of the series, to give us a few summing-up words, and a glimpse of what's to come.. | Photo: Filmbetrachter from Pixabay | | | | | AgriFoSe2030: Impact Briefs – Lessons learned into food security and sustainabilityThe Sida-funded AgriFoSe2030 program, led by SLU, aims to translate science into policy and practice to enhance food security in the Global South. The programme has produced impact briefs summarising project approaches, success factors, challenges, and key learnings. These briefs provide insights into strategies for addressing food security and agricultural sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia, emphasising local knowledge and stakeholder engagement. We would also like to recommend this interesting and lovely cookbook: “Secrets of African Edible Insect Cookery” It was produced as part of the programme. Image description: Fuduka cooperative sorghum crop during 2022-23 season. Photo: Sorghum-cowpea project file pictures | | | | | AgroMixNorth: Crop diversification for sustainable, resilient agriculture in a changing climateHi Anke! Can you tell us a bit about your research and the project AgroMixNorth – what are the main challenges and opportunities for promoting sustainable agriculture amidst the effects of climate change? And how does all of this connect to the One Health concept? Photo: Anke Herrmann, SLU | | | | | Advancing soil health for sustainable agriculture: Insights from the SoilX projectHi Thomas! Can you tell us a bit about your research on soil management practices – what are the main challenges and opportunities to promote sustainable agriculture amidst the effects of climate change? And how does all of this connect to the One Health concept. Photo: Thomas Keller, SLU | | | | | Exploring the complexities of soil health assessment and monitoring
“We want to monitor soil health because it impacts literally our health and our lives,” Roy Neilson, James Hutton Institute.
In connection with the annual World Soil Day, which aims to raise awareness of soil issues and promote sustainable soil management, SLU researchers from all faculties and campuses gathered for a workshop to discuss Nordic perspectives on soil health. The workshop focused on exploring the complexities of soil health assessment and monitoring, guided by the key question: What exactly is Soil Health, and is it a useful concept that can be applied in a scientific framework? Photo: Wiebke Mareile Heinze | | | | | Docent lecture: Restoring degraded drylands in Africa for improved water securityDid you miss Aida
Barguès Tobella's docent lecture?
Watch it now – it's still available for about two weeks at SLU Play. It is about restoring degraded drylands in Africa for improved water security. This topic is closely linked to the One Health approach – Healthy soils, rich in biodiversity, are essential for creating a sustainable food system, which is crucial for food security amidst a changing climate. Photo of Aida: Daniel Stjärna, SLU | | | | | New Report: Biodiversity and the Food We EatVirtually everything we eat or its raw materials come from the "wild" or cultivated nature – fields, forests, seas, lakes, and more. Both cultivated and wild elements are part of biodiversity, which includes the variety of species, ecosystems, and genes.
Biodiversity and the Food We Eat is an anthology written by researchers at the SLU Centre for Biological Diversity, commissioned by SLU Future Food. The report aims to fascinate, inspire, and provoke thoughts about our dependence on biodiversity, highlighting the intricate connection between our food choices and biodiversity in our landscapes. It also addresses practical and political challenges in preserving the biodiversity we directly rely on. | | | | |
A selection of One Health researchSLU conducts interdisciplinary research in the One Health area. Here we present a selection of research projects, publications, as well as research results in the field. (Primarily in English, Swedish if the content is not available in English). Highlights this time:
| | | | | Call for applications: Interdisciplinary Thematic Groups within SLU's Interdisciplinary Academy (IDA) 2025-2026The Interdisciplinary Academy (IDA) is a programme where SLU researchers are offered the opportunity to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries on complex issues in the broad field of sustainable transition. Call opens: 5 Dec 2024 Application deadline: 12 March 2025
| Foto: 925am / Shutterstock. | | | | | Save the date! Webinar: ’Urban Healthscapes in Climate Change Emergencies’ | Urban Health #3 + Climate ConversationsFor this event, the webinar series Urban Health and Climate Conversations unite for a unique interdisciplinary event. International experts will share innovative solutions to address climate challenges in urban environments — from managing heatwaves and preventing floods to implementing nature-based methods for sustainable urban development. Join us for an inspiring and informative session focused on the future of climate-resilient cities and urban health. Organisers: SLU Future Platforms and SLU Global Most welcome! |
Photo: Fons Heijnsbroek, Unsplash | | | | | | | | The One Health Breakfast Club |
Our aim with The One Health Breakfast Club is to stimulate interdisciplinary and cross-faculty collaborations. We meet and greet on a regular basis, to hopefully gain some new insights and inspiration while having breakfast together. |
Join us next time when Ida Hallberg, from the Department of Clinical Sciences, talks about environmental chemicals and their effects on humans and animals from a One Health perspective.
The last sign-up day is 28 January! See you there!
| | | | | | Upcoming events- related to One Health | | | | | |
