Plant breeding for extreme environments
NOVA Course: Plant breeding for extreme environments
The Agricultural University of Iceland offers an intensive course for PhD students from institutions of the Nordic Forestry, Veterinary and Agricultural University Network (NOVA). This course is offered as Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) and participants may seek Erasmus+ funding at their home institutions.
Course terms:
In-person participation: 05 - 10 October 2025
Online participation: 16 September 2025
Agriculture must meet large challenges in the coming decades. Crops must be adapted to severe challenges caused by climate change and calls from society for sustainable agricultural practices. With increased temperatures and changing weather patterns, crops must adapt to new conditions, in some cases extreme conditions such as water shortages, water lodging, high temperatures and wind. In other cases, crops must be adapted to new environments, for example arctic agriculture. New methods in plant breeding, including genomic and molecular genetic techniques are essential tools to address these challenges. This course will give doctoral students a broad insight to essential plant breeding techniques to face current and future challenges
ECTS | 5 |
Course term | 05 - 10 October 2025 |
Online event | 16 September 2025 |
Useful information when travelling to Iceland
Are you wondering what kind of weather you can expect in October, what a yellow alert may mean, and where it is announced? Or, maybe you are not sure if you need any cash... and what about the volcanoes?
Don´t worry, here you can find links and a comprehensive overview which will make you an expert on travelling to Iceland!
Website/App | Content | Link |
|---|---|---|
MUST HAVE SafeTravel | Operated by ICE-SAR — The Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue provides secure and well-sourced information for travellers about Icelandic conditions and safety. An app for Android and iPhone is available. It is important as it will send regular updates information and alerts if something BIG happens. Please install it to your smartphones. | |
Vedur.is Weather | Vedur is the website of the Icelandic Met Office, and here you can check the weather forecast as well as the weather related alerts. We have three levels of these alerts in Iceland: Yellow - Orange - Red. | |
Road.is | Vegagerðin – Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration – IRCA. The state of roads is one of the most popular topics of complaint amongst Icelanders, alongside the weather. IRCA operates a very useful website with regularly updated road closures and conditions. Check the conditions before you decide to enjoy that road trip! Mountain roads (F roads) are accessible only by 4x4 vehicles, and many will be closed in October. | |
Clothing | The weather in Iceland changes quickly, and the seasons blend into one another. Here is some advice on packing for your Iceland trip - before you try squishing your entire closet into a suitcase. October is fairly windy, and it can already be snowing. | |
Emergency | In an emergency, call 1-1-2. You can dial +354 112 or contact the service via webchat: Webchat with the emergency operator is available at the link on the right. Citizens of EEA countries should not forget to bring their EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card), which is accepted in Iceland. |
Should you worry about the ongoing volcanic activity?
The local currency is Icelandic Króna (plural Krónur): ISK
Bank cards are accepted basically everywhere, and you can use your phone for contactless transactions during your travels in Iceland. Cash is not used as much but is accepted.
