Research & Results
Our mission is ‘to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life.’ Our knowledge supports government, the trade and industry sector and civil society in facing their challenges. We achieve synergy by combining education with fundamental and applied research.
Our research themes
Biodiversity
Life on earth is not possible without biodiversity. Flowers and bees, but also bacteria, rainforests and city gardens - they are essential for food production, combating climate change, clean air and water, natural resources such as wood, preventing diseases and for our quality of life. Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is working hard to create a society in which biodiversity flourishes. We do this through research, education and cooperation with businesses, government and NGOs.
Climate change
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time. Although a global problem, the causes and solutions of climate change are often local. Wageningen University & Research (WUR) explores the impacts on society and ecosystems, and develop evidence-based, integrated solutions and technology: the Wageningen Climate Solutions.
Circular & Biobased Economy
The call for a circular, biobased economy is getting louder and louder. An increasing number of citizens, businesses, and politicians are realising that the reuse of products and reclaiming of natural resources is of great importance for ourselves and for the planet on which we live, if we want to move forward towards a sustainable future. Wageningen University & Research is working on solutions to make the circular, biobased economy a reality.
From hunger to food security
The world population is growing steadily and is projected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050. In less than forty years, 2 billion more people will need housing, jobs and food. Furthermore, wealth is -fortunately- expected to increase, which means that diets will change as well.
Nutrition & Health
You are what you eat. It’s a saying with lots of meaning, because to a large extent our nutrition determines our health.
Artificial Intelligence
Developments within artificial intelligence are rapid. When it comes to healthy nutrition and a healthy environment, artificial intelligence is an indispensable part of WUR’s research and education. It is already being used in camera footage that recognises the quality of food, in fully automatic farming under differing local conditions, in the remote monitoring of the health of livestock, and in determining which hereditary characteristics lead to fertile and resistant varieties and crops. The list of applications is almost endless.
Focus WUR-research
The focus and direction of our research are mapped out in a 4-year Strategic Plan. For the period 2019-2022 WUR has identified five scientific research programmes and six investment programmes.