Insights from SLU’s Climate Conversations – Food security in focus amid climate change

Food security has been a central theme in many of the webinars and internal dialogues held by SLU Climate Conversations – a cross-disciplinary seminar series initiated by SLU’s four Future Platforms and SLU Global in 2021 to coincide with the launch of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) AR6 reports. These first Conversations featured talks from SLU and international researchers, policy specialists, and IPCC authors centred on the core topics of these climate change reports; the physical science basis, mitigation, impacts, and adaptation and vulnerability.

Of particular relevance to food security the 2021 webinars featured contributions from SLU researchers Lotta Rydhmer (on animal breeding and genetics for a more sustainable production), and Jennie Barron (on the development and transformation of agro-ecosystems and landscapes through water and land management, policy engagement, and capacity building). Added to this, many more SLU researchers shared insightful ideas and discussions in virtual dialogues also held internally for SLU staff.

In 2022 the series hosted a webinar entitled ‘How should we adapt food production under climate change?’ and was honoured to receive a keynote talk from Debra Roberts, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II which produced the AR6 report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Debra presented an overview of the report’s main findings and in particular stressed the urgent need to better understand, communicate, and finance adaptation options for food systems. SLU researcher Harry Fischer in addition discussed his ongoing work on social vulnerability and climate adaptation governance in the Himalayas.

Food security has continued to be a much-discussed topic in more recent Climate Conversations, including in the 2023 internal dialogue on ‘Climate-impact of food producing animals – what do we know and what are the knowledge gaps?’ featuring talks from SLU researchers Elin Röös and Mikaela Lindberg, and a webinar on ‘Food security and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus’. While many of these Conversations featuring food security have been global in nature – often with a specific focus on low- and middle-income countries – in 2024 the series also turned its attention to domestic matters with the internal dialogue ‘How can we produce food throughout Sweden in the shadow of climate change?’.

Food security will no doubt continue to be a central theme into the future, and we encourage SLU researchers to join in – whether as part of internal dialogues, or running climate-related talks that Climate Conversations can promote as associated events.

Do you think the series of Climate Conversations events has improved the interdisciplinary dialogue on climate within SLU?

"Over the four years since its inception, we feel that Climate Conversations has really opened up the interdisciplinary dialogue on climate within SLU. And this is exactly the type of dialogue we ought to be having, to inspire new perspectives and solutions for climate action," says Paul.

"You are most welcome to take part in the dialogue that continues at the beginning of next year – keep an eye open for our invitations, or go to our calendar with upcoming events on our web page".

//Paul Egan, SLU Future One Health’s hub coordinator in Alnarp and coordinator for the Climate Conversations series at SLU Global.