Uppsala – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) formalized their long-standing partnership today with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Signed by FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol, and SLU Vice-Chancellor, Maria Knutson Wedel, at a ceremony in Uppsala, Sweden, this agreement marks a new chapter in a collaboration that has already contributed significantly to sustainable agriculture, natural resource management and food security.

With a shared vision to co-create knowledge and advance innovation that can address critical issues and tackle pressing global challenges, the MoU will strengthen FAO and SLU’s joint work on climate change, zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The partnership will focus on key areas including animal health, forest and landscape restoration, agrifood system innovations, and agroecology for agrifood systems transformation.

“The collaboration between SLU and FAO is deeply rooted, beginning in the 1950s with a partnership to train veterinarians in India. Today, our cooperation is expanding into critical areas such as sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and animal health. Our society is facing significant global challenges, including climate change, increasing food security demands, and antibiotic resistance. Through this agreement, we can continue to develop new knowledge and solutions that contribute to the 2030 Agenda,” emphasized SLU Vice-Chancellor, Maria Knutson Wedel.

On signing the MoU, FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol highlighted that, “Sweden is at the forefront of innovation and sustainability in agrifood systems, and through this agreement with SLU, we are reinforcing our partnership and mutual dedication to advancing this critical work at a global scale. Together, we are enhancing our capacity to develop and upscale science-based solutions that address the complex challenges being faced worldwide.”

The long-standing collaboration between FAO and SLU has already produced impactful initiatives, including SLU’s participation in FAO-led programmes such as the Global Soil Partnership and the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock. The renewed agreement will continue to support both institutions’ efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices and target the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDGs 2, 3, and 9.