Genetic processes and genetic resources
The Department's fields of interest cover genetic processes and genetic resources.
The Department works with the primary global objective of improving the use of trees and bushes in forests, in country and urban areas for the benefit of the users and for the contributions that trees and bushes provide in different natural and social aspects.

Tropical context in developing countries
In a tropical context, the development objective of the Department is to contribute to improve the benefits of growing trees for the well-being of people in developing countries.
The Department works in particular in relation to Danish international Development Assistance (Danida) but also as a 'public good' in partnership with international development and research organisations and institutions engaged in management of genetic resources of woody plants worldwide.

In the tropical context, work comprise all aspects of applied management of genetic resources of trees, i.e. the technical disciplines of seed procurement, tree improvement, conservation of genetic resources and institutional development.

Read more and get further information about  Projects and Employees in the department.

At the moment the department is involved in the following projects in West Africa

• Sahelian Fruit Trees (SAFRUIT), 2006-2010 (Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso supported by EU)
• Innovative Tools and Techniques for Sustainable Use of the Shea Tree in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone (INNOVKAR), 2007-2011 (Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Uganda supported by EU)
• Improving food potential in West African parkland trees (NuTree), 2007-2010 (Mali, Burkina Faso supported by  Danida)
• Tree diversification and intensification in cocoa establishments in West Africa 2004-2009 (Ghana, Elfenbenskysten, Cameroon, Nigeria supported by  World Cocoa Foundation)
• Domestication of Jatropha curcas for oil production on smallholder farms in the Sudano-Sahelian region with focus on Mali, 2009-2013 supported by Danida