Research at UMB

Knut Werner Alsen

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences is recognized as a leading international centre of knowledge. The core responsibilities are research within environmental- and biosciences. The university’s main specialization areas are biology, food, environment, land use and natural resource management.

Research at UMB Foto: Håkon Sparre

Vision
Research at UMB shall be at the international forefront in the fields of environmental science, food science and biotechnology. All research at UMB shall contribute towards enhancing human livelihood and support the institution’s educational activities.

Topics
• Research related to food and health issues, such as functional food
• Marine research related to aquaculture and fish processing
• Energy and environmental research, related to environmentally sound technology
• Complex, interdisciplinary environmental problems related to sustainable land use
• Health-related research linked to healthy food, clean water and the environment, and the many related challenges in developing countries.

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) is recognised as a leading international centre of knowledge. The core responsibilities are higher education and research within environmental- and biosciences. The University’s main specialisation areas are: biology, food, environment, land use and natural resource management. In total, UMB has some 2,800 students of which about 248 are PhD students.

The core responsibilities are higher education and research within environmental- and biosciences. National and international challenges are concordant with the three main areas of priority for core research at UMB; environmental science, food science and biotechnology. In addition, UMB is developing two areas of interdisciplinary research: aquaculture and commercial development. UMB participate in two centres of excellence, one of which intersects the fields of aquaculture and genetics.

Environmental science
Environmental research at UMB has its focus on the sustainable use and management of terrestrial and aquatic resources, including the use of the natural environment for increased human and animal welfare. UMB organises interdisciplinary research groups within the fields of natural science, social science and engineering. Environmental research at UMB has a high international standing, and is based on extensive national and international networks.
A wide variety of basic and applied environmental research projects provides expertise for high quality environmental education at UMB. Environmental research at UMB is divided into the three programme areas: Environment and Bioproduction, Environment, Landscape and Climate and Environment and Improved Welfare.

Food science
UMB will expand its involvement in food science, with regard to production, processing, storage and quality control. Research on food-related health aspects will receive more attention. Strategic alliances with external institutions and research groups will strengthen UMB’s research capacity in all aspects of food production, processing and marketing. UMB will also increase the scope of its research on food security and safety, especially regarding developing countries. Research cover the entire food production chain from the farm, through processing and use of technology, products as well as logistics and marketing. Central issues of this research include raw material and food quality, food safety and consumer attitudes.

Biotechnology
UMB will enhance biotechnological research related to food research, food processing as well as food-related quality and health issues. The research topics Food for improved health and Safe food play a major role in this context. Modelling and assessment of models related to biotechnology and biological systems will be part of this research effort. Ethical aspects, risks and benefits to society will also form part of UMB’s efforts in the field of biotechnology. Bioprospecting is increasingly being used to find and utilise materials and compounds not yet discovered in nature. Bioinformatics has developed into a new discipline for processing the large mass of information on life forms in nature. The knowledge is used in biomedicine and in crop- and animal production. New biotechnological tools will be used at UMB for the development of feedstuffs adapted to domestic animals and fish species.

Aquaculture
Modern aquaculture is the fastest growing food production industry in the world, with an annual growth of 10%. In Norway, cultivation of salmonids has become the largest form of livestock farming, and revenues from salmon farming constitute a significant proportion of Norway’s export revenues. Research has played a crucial role in this development. The Akvaculture science at Ås is one of the leading research and teaching com-munities within aquaculture. Our knowledge has been passed on to many parts of the globe. Aquaculture research at UMB wants to ensure that new knowledge is generated for the benefit of the aquaculture industry in Norway and abroad.

Today main focus areas in aquaculture research are nutrition and feeding, breeding and genetics, environmental and well fare aspects, production and production technique, and processing of fish to food products.

Alliances
Research is also carried out together with other independent institutes established at Ås and Oslo, through national alliances with other institutions and through institutional partnerships with universities world wide.

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Updated: 27.01.07
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