NorthFood annual conference: "Plant Science for Change – policy changes and new findings"

Welcome to the third annual NorthFood conference, Plant Science for Change, one of the three prioritized research areas at Umeå University.

NorthFood aims to strengthen existing research on plant-based foods, foster new applications, and build collaborations across disciplines at Umeå University and beyond. More about NorthFood is found here: Northfood: Plant Science for Change.

This year's theme explores the future of food in the subarctic and beyond, with a special focus on policy developments and the evolving EU landscape. From resilient meals and circular food systems to tropical crops in Nordic climates and the untapped potential of fireweed, the conference highlights how plant science, together with the social, environmental, and economic sciences, hopes to contribute to climate resilience, food security, preparedness, and sustainable growth.

The programme features updates from ongoing NorthFood research projects, perspectives on recent policy developments, and also presentations by researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure. 

We welcome participants from academia, industry, and the public sector. The conference provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging challenges, and explore new avenues for collaboration.

Welcome! We are looking forward to seeing you on November 3rd!

REGISTRATION

Sign up here before October 23, 2026.

The conference will be held in English and will last from 8:30 to 16:30, followed by dinner at 18:00.

PROGRAMME

Time in the programme is Central European Time (CET), e.g. Stockholm, Umeå

(Note! The programme is under construction and is subject to change)

8.30 Check-in

9.00 Welcome – Where are we in the project?
Stefan Jansson, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University, and
Sofia Lundberg, Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics (USBE), Umeå University

1. Ongoing Northfood research

9.15 Fireweed
Nathaniel Street, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University

9.30 Integrated multitrophic farming
Olivier Keech, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University

9.45 New protein crops
David Parsons, Department of Crop Production Ecology, SLU

10.00 Modifying photosynthesis
Åsa Strand, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University

☕ 10.15 Fika

10.45 Potatoes
Benedicte Albrectsen, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University

11.00 Swidden rye: a landrace cereal for enhanced resilience in future agroecosystems?
Maria Eriksson, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University

11.15 Gene editing for climate-resilience crop production: A case study in tomato
Long Tran Thien, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University

11.30 Crowberry: Rediscovering an Underused Arctic Berry
Lena Maria Nilsson, Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Arctic Centre at Umeå University, and Várdduo-Centre for Sámi Research, Umeå University

11.45 MUORJI FUTURES – Wild Berries and Resilient Northern Food System
Keith Larson, Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience, Climate Impacts Research Centre, and Arctic Centre at Umeå University

🍽️ 12.00 Lunch

13.00 Alternative protein – consumer preferences and policy design
Arturo Turillazzi, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science, Umeå University

13.15 A sensory lab
Armando Perez Cueto Eulert, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science, Umeå University

2. The policy landscape

13.30 CRISPR and the EU
Stefan Jansson, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University

13.45 EU stronger support for environmental, social, and innovation goals in public procurement
Sofia Lundberg, Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics (USBE), Umeå University

3. SLU activities

14.00 "Norra livsnoden" – A SLU initiative for cooperation in Northern Sweden for increased regional food safety
Marie Gidlund, Vice-Chancellor's Office, SLU

14.30 Plant breeding for Northern Sweden at SLU
Pär Ingvarsson, Department of Plant Biology, SLU

14.45 MULCROPA - Winter annual plants
Mårten Hetta, Vice Dean at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, SLU, or
Laurens Post, Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, SLU

☕ 15.00 Fika

15.30 Sustainable and resilient food production (”Tillväxtutredningen livsmedel 2045”)
Karl Lundvall, The Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure

💡16.00 Group discussions

💡16.30 Summary discussion

🍽️ 18.00 Dinner at Nòr (Clarion Hotel Umeå, top floor)