Lantmännen has recently committed 300 million kronor to The Lantmännen Research Foundation, a major investment in demand-driven agricultural and food research. The decision reflects a conviction that Jan-Erik Hansson, Chairman of both Lantmännen’s Board and the Research Foundation and a working farmer with 1,200 dairy cows in Hälsingland, states plainly “without research and innovation, the industry cannot survive”.

No one knows their fields better than the farmer who grows them, but even the most experienced grower does not see and understand everything. At SLU in Umeå, researchers Julianne de Castro Oliveira and Sanna Bergqvist are working on allowing satellites and sensors to complement the farmer's gaze when cultivating grassland. The goal is to understand why some parts of the fields give lower yields than others. The method is based on the principles of precision agriculture and can improve nitrogen fertilization with positive effects for both the economy and the environment.

What if a few simple tests could reveal which breakfast is best for you, for your body and your metabolism? That is what a research team led by Rikard Landberg at Chalmers is setting out to explore, with whole grain as one of the key ingredients. With 4,500 invited participants, 32,000 blood sample cards and support from The Lantmännen Research Foundation and other funders, Rikard and his colleagues are working to give healthcare providers and innovators a tool that has so far been missing. An open and accessible model for personalised nutrition that can benefit many.

Lantmännen Research Foundation opens its annual funding call on June 17, with a budget of 25 million Swedish kronor. For researchers thinking about applying, Helena Fredriksson, the foundation's Research Director, has a simple message: contact us. The foundation is more than a funder – it wants to be a working partner from day one.