Agri4D 2025 | Externwebben

Save the date for Agri4D, 23-25 September 2025

Save the date for the upcoming Agri4D conference, where SLU Global and SIANI will unite science, policy, and practice to make a real-world impact on global food systems and help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2.

Main theme: Nurturing regenerative food systems in a changing climate

Programme Agri4D 2025

Register for the conference

Call for abstracts

The detailed call for abstracts and concept notes is found here. Deadline is 8 May.

Reflections from Agri4D 2023

Read Matthew Kessler's blogpost about his reflections after Agri4D 2023 on resilient food systems.

Themes 2025

The theme for the conference 2025 will be "Nurturing regenerative food systems in a changing climate" with three specific sub-themes:

1. Empowering the next generation of food systems leaders

2. Transforming food systems: innovation and implementation

3. Equity, justice, and resilience

Meet the plenary keynote speakers

Erik Alexandersson

Erik Alexandersson holds a PhD in biochemistry from Lund University, Sweden, with a focus on plant molecular biology. He did his postdoctoral studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where he collaborated on research into plant–pathogen interactions and field crops. He is a formerly associate professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), where he led projects focused on plant health, crop biofortification and the application of omics technologies in crop improvement, focusing both on the Global North and the Global South. He also has a background as an in-house editor at open-access publisher BioMed Central.

Currently, Erik serves as a senior research manager at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, where he leverages his scientific expertise to support research and innovation in plant science, breeding and biotechnology. His role involves strategic funding initiatives aimed at addressing global challenges in agriculture, food security, and environmental sustainability. With a strong background in academic research and a growing presence in science policy and funding, Erik is committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that drive transformative change and solutions.

Patrick Okori

Patrick Okori is currently the Executive Secretary of Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a network of 175 Universities in 40 countries of Africa. Patrick is an Agriculture Science and education expert and leader. Patrick Received his PhD at the SLU,-Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Uppsala Sweden and both Masters and bachelors degrees at Makerere University, Uganda. Through his carrier Patrick has previously served as Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences at Makerere University; the Deputy Director of the Global Research Programme on Accelerated Crop Improvement at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

Patrick has graduated over 50 PhD and MSc Students and is widely published. He has commercialized over 30 varieties of legumes and cereals, that are widely grown in eastern and southern Africa. As a science leader he revamped and strengthened crop breeding and research programmes in eastern and southern Africa.

Patrick is a thought leader who has been involved in high level planning, strategy and visioning for national, regional as well as continental to global agencies. Early in his career, Patrick was part of the team that developed the Eastern Africa's premier agriculture, bio-policy and bio-innovation research programme, called BIOINNOVATE.

The objective of Agri4D 2025 is to discuss science that can contribute to evidence-based policy and practice needed to transform global food systems and contribute to the sustainable development goals.

This year’s Agri4D will focus on nurturing regenerative food systems that are resilient to climate change and have low climate impact, while contributing to social, environmental and economic sustainability. The conference encourages dynamic multi-stakeholder dialogues that can stimulate transformations contributing to eradicate hunger in the world.

All stakeholders, including researchers, practitioners, civil society, private sector and policy makers, who are working on food systems in low income contexts, are invited to join the conference to discuss innovative solutions for tomorrow. You can engage in several ways, for example through oral and poster presentations, workshops or roundtable discussions.

Organised by SLU Global at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative (SIANI), with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).