Themes Wageningen University & Research
How can we live not only on, but also with, the planet? For a future that is sustainable, healthy, fair, biodiverse, circular and climate-resilient. Through groundbreaking research and inspiring education, Wageningen University & Research is searching for answers.
WUR aims to find the balance between the well-being of the planet – and all that lives on it – and people’s need for healthy food and a healthy environment. In this, we are undeniably ambitious. We also see that our ambition comes with complex, interrelated challenges. That is why we seek systemic solutions that take all those connections into account.
Our research and education is organised around six themes, while always keeping the bigger picture in view. Precisely because WUR focuses on food, nature, and people, we are able to see the interrelationships between these themes and to develop solutions with real impact. And there is urgency, because the transition to a sustainable future is not progressing fast enough.
But we cannot do this alone. Multiple perspectives and areas of expertise are needed to make dilemmas visible and to address them. That is why we bring together different scientific disciplines from inside and outside WUR, as well as the perspectives of governments, businesses, and citizens. Together, we create the knowledge needed for sustainable change – locally, and at the global level.
At every level, WUR works on solutions that bring humanity, nature, and the planet back into balance.
Discover our themes
Sustainable food systems
We need to find a new balance between what we eat, how we produce it, and the conditions under which it is grown.
Biodiversity and resilient ecosystems
The interaction between plants, animals and ecosystems keeps our environment healthy, nutritious and resilient. How do we preserve that balance?
Global Health
In a healthy world, it is not only people who thrive. Our health is connected to the health of all living things.
Climate-proof futures
To withstand the impacts of climate change, adaptation is essential — from green cities to nature-inclusive agriculture.
Biobased and circular society
In a circular society, we close resource loops, use renewable materials and generate almost no waste.
Sustainable water and land use
How do we manage our water and land so that these vital resources remain available for future generations?