News
The King of Sweden's interest in agriculture and forestry leads His Majesty to Estonian University of Life Sciences.
Today, on May 4, King Carl XVI Gustaf, who is on a state visit to Estonia, will also visit the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu. The King is going to plant the King’s Pine progeny from Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre on May 4 on the EMÜ campus and gets acquainted with the research and studies of the University in the field of climate-smart agriculture and forestry.
According to Rector Ülle Jaakma, it is known that His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is very interested in environmental issues as well as forestry and agriculture. “Especially for the King's visit, we prepared an exhibition about the bioeconomic solutions that mitigate climate change that our researchers offer to entrepreneurs and society. Estonia and Sweden have a common intention to organise agricultural production and forest management in a smarter and more environmentally sustainable way”, Rector said.
The University has close and efficient academic collaboration with many Swedish universities and research institutions. Sweden also made a significant contribution to the formation of Estonia's new academic generation after Estonia regained its independence.
“Already since 1992, many talented researchers have completed their studies at the Swedish Agricultural University SLU and other Swedish universities, often defending their doctoral degrees there. Back at EMÜ, they helped to modernise the Estonian higher education system thanks to their international experience. By now, the Estonian University of Life Sciences has become one of the world's top universities in agriculture and forestry” Ülle Jaakma gave a brief overview of collaboration in the field of research and higher education.
His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, together with President Alar Karis and the accompanying delegation, will arrive at the Estonian University of Life Sciences today, on May 4, a few minutes after three in the afternoon. A symbolic tree is going to be planted in front of the Forestry Building. The majestic King’s Pine from Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre dates back about 400 years ago; his progeny is 7 years old. After planting the tree, Rector Ülle Jaakma with Director of Institute of Forestry and Engineering Marek Metslaid and Director of Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Aret Vooremäe introduce the exhibition “Climate-smart Agriculture and Forestry as Driver of Circular Bioeconomy” to the visitors in the entrance hall of Forestry Building. In the Book of Honour, the King signs a page about the visit. During the visit of the lab of plant gas exchange, the King will be shown an experiment demonstrating the stress response of plants to an attack by herbivorous insects by the Professor Ülo Niinemets, Estonia's most influential scientist.
As a reminder of the visit, the University will present to the King a graphic series "Name of Rebirth" by Mall and Silver Vahtre.
In addition, the King will be given the seeds of the King´s Pine and a book dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Forestry Education, as well as a wooden postage stamp, which also depicts the King´s Pine.
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The University family and all interested parties are invited to greet His Majesty in front of the Forestry Building (Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 5) from 2:30 p.m.. On the big screen you can follow the information related to the King's visit and listen to live music. The tree will be planted shortly after 3:00 p.m. Then, we ask you to wait a little while the official delegation moves from the Forestry Building entrance hall to the laboratory visit after viewing the exhibition. Around 3:30 p.m. all those interested are invited to the entrance hall for the exhibition “Climate-smart Agriculture and Forestry as Driver of Circular Bioeconomy”.
Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden pay a State Visit to Estonia on the invitation of President Alar Karis. During the Visit of the University the King will be accompanied by the President and representatives of the royal house, Swedish government and embassy. Queen Silvia and Sirje Karis have a special program at the same time.
In Tartu, Their Majesties will meet the Mayor Urmas Klaas and visit the University of Tartu which was founded in 1632 by order of the King of Sweden, and the Estonian National Museum.
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Read more about the collaboration between the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Swedish universities and what will happen at the University during today's visit (attached material, 5 pages).
Further information:
Ülle Jaakma
Rector 528 8468