The funding call is open – here's how we work with research

Lantmännen Research Foundation supports research within three focus areas: Agriculture and machinery, Food and health, and Bioenergy and green materials. The focus reflects the Foundation's core purpose to support research on cereals, other agricultural raw materials, and the products made from them.

The three areas closely follow Lantmännen's own business, from the farm through to finished products like bread, specialty ingredients and bio-based fuel components. The Foundation has been around for 40 years, and over that time it has developed a model that brings research, farming and industry together.

– We work with researchers on issues that matter over the long term, and we build knowledge that actually gets used. The information about the call goes into more detail about our current research priorities, says Helena.

The Foundation is also in a strong position this year. Lantmännen recently added 300 million Swedish kronor to its funding base, giving the Foundation theability to back research over a longer horizon.

We want you as a researcher to get in touch when you have an idea. Then we can be involved in reasoning about the application, contribute with knowledge about raw materials or find cultivation sites and experimental farms.

/ Helena Fredriksson

The Foundation´s Research Manager

/ Helena Fredriksson

The Foundation´s Research Manager

Three perspectives, every time

What sets the Foundation apart from many research funders is how applications are evaluated. Each focus area has its own review panel of nine people: three researchers from external institutions, three farmers, and three specialists from Lantmännen. Together they assess each application on scientific quality, long-term value for the sector and commercial potential. The structure is intentional — all three perspectives have to be in the room.

Each panel member assesses applications independently before the group comes together to discuss. The Foundation's board makes the final call in late November, and researchers hear back within about a week.

More than a funder

Helena Fredriksson describes the Foundation's role in relation to researchers as a partner rather than a traditional research financier.– We want you as a researcher to get in touch when you have an idea. Then we can be involved in reasoning about the application, contribute with knowledge about raw materials or find cultivation sites and experimental farms. That relationship continues once a project gets the green light. The Foundation stays involved, follows the work closely and genuinely cares about where it leads. Every project has a goal, but what happens along the way often matters just as much. Each project also feeds into the bigger picture across our R&D portfolio, says Helena.