Sweden’s Apple Legacy Axed: 85-Year Breeding Program Shut Down, Thousands of Trees Destroyed
Sweden is losing its century-old apple expertise after its national breeding program was shut down, eliminating thousands of unique apple trees and decades of research.
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has ended its apple breeding program at the Alnarp research station after 85 years of operation [177890]. Representatives from six organizations tied to Sweden’s apple industry warn the shutdown is irreversible, noting it takes at least 20 years to rebuild such a program [177890].
The loss means Sweden will struggle to develop new apple varieties that can survive the country’s specific climate. The program was essential for creating hardy, disease-resistant apples suited for Swedish growing conditions [177890]. Without it, Sweden loses its ability to produce new, locally adapted fruit, and the country faces a long recovery period if the decision is not reversed [177890].
This development comes as Swedish production forests are growing fast, yet many endangered species cannot survive there. A new study reveals that while trees grow quickly and the timber industry thrives, a key element is missing from these forests, making the environment unsuitable for red-listed species—plants and animals at risk of extinction [177868]. The result is a forest that looks healthy but lacks the diversity needed to support rare life [177868].
Meanwhile, new technology offers hope for plant conservation elsewhere. A major report from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, says artificial intelligence and digitization could be a turning point in the fight to save vital plants before they disappear, with scientists calling it a "race against extinction" [174498]. AI has helped extract crucial genetic data from 180-year-old fungus samples, which experts call a "genomic goldmine" [174498].
Additionally, a surge in the discovery of new plant and animal species is raising hopes for future drug development. Scientists are finding more unknown organisms than ever before, each carrying unique chemical compounds that have evolved over millions of years [172610]. Experts caution that not every new species will lead to a drug, but the current rate of discovery offers a fresh pipeline for medical research [172610].
In Indonesia, a critically endangered Sumatran tiger has been filmed in a protected forest, offering rare evidence of the species’ survival. The tiger was captured by a camera trap in the Hutan Harapan ecosystem on Sumatra island [172350]. Fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild, threatened by deforestation and poaching, and the footage confirms the animal’s presence in a key conservation area [172350].