Margarita Cuadra

I worked part time as Head for the division of Rural Development at SLU (2017-2023).  Since 2023, I am working as assistant director of studies for the programs in rural development at SLU.

Since 2026, I am also working with education administration supporting teaching activities. 

I was lecturer at Universidad Nacional Agraria – UNA (www.una.edu.ni) in Managua for 25 years, teaching on sustainable agriculture and agroecology. At SLU, since 2009, I have been teaching an online course in agroecology; and the course in sustainable natural resource management for the master's program in rural development (2013-2016). I have been a guest lecturer in the courses Interdisciplinary practice, Governance of natural resources and Rurality, livelihoods and gender. 

Since 2023, I have been part of the Formas financed research project FoodAct: Action Research for Sustainable Food Security in times of Crisis - Agroecology in Sweden, Italy and Chile that ends in 2026.

Internationalization of our research and education has been one of my main interests and area of my work at SLU. From 2011-2016, I was the coordinator of SOL Development Platform, an initiative from SOL to internationalise our research and education. I have been an exchange teacher within the Linnaeus Palme exchange program with UNA (Nicaragua) and MU (Mekelle University in Ethiopia). From 2014 to 2019 I worked part time at SLU Global (www.slu.se/slu-global) as a communication officer and representative for the SIANI network (www.siani.se) at SLU. 

I have a bachelor degree in agronomic engineering in plants and soils from Universidad Nacional Agraria in Managua, Nicaragua, a Master’s degree in Crop Production Science (SLU) and a PhD in Crop Production Ecology (SLU). 

Sujoy Subroto, Conny Davidsen, A. Z. M. Manzoor Rashid & Margarita Cuadra (2021) Dual Governance and the Shadow of State Authority: Co-Management Realities in Rema-Kalenga Protected Area of Bangladesh, Journal of Sustainable Forestry, doi: 10.1080/10549811.2021.1941121

Eksvärd, K., Lönngren, G., Cuadra, M., Francis, C., Johansson, B., Namanjl, S., Rydberg, T., Ssekyewa, C., Gissén, C., Salomonsson, L.
2014. Agroecology in practice. Walking the talk. Reports. Department of Urban and Rural Development. No. 1/2014. ISSN: 1654-0565. ISBN: 978-91-85735-31-0

Cuadra, M. and Björklund, J. 2007. Assessment of economic and ecological carrying capacity of agricultural crops in Nicaragua. Ecological Indicators, 7 (2007) 133-149.

Cuadra, M. and Rydberg, T. 2006. Emergy evaluation on the production, processing and export of coffee in Nicaragua. Ecological Modelling, 196 (2006) 421-433.

Cuadra, M. 2005. Assessment of the natural resource base of Nicaragua and case studies of its use in agricultural production and export. Doctoral Thesis No. 2005: 25. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Uppsala. 51 pp.

Cuadra, M. and Rydberg, T. 2000. Emergy evaluation of the environment and economy of Nicaragua. In (Ed.) Brown, M. T. Emergy Synthesis. Theory and Applications of the Emergy Methodology. Proceedings of the First Biennal Emergy Analysis Research Conference. The Center of Environmental Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville.

Conference contributions

Lennart Salomonsson, Margarita Cuadra, Charles Francis, Geir Lieblein. 2016. Facilitating International Doctoral Education: Agroecology & Capacity Building. Proceedings of the 11th European IFSA Symposium. Vol 1. 1- 4 April 2014 in Berlin, Germany. 

Cuadra, M. 2015. Achieving Conservation Goals in Human-inhabited Protected Areas: The Case of Zapatera Archipelago National Park in Nicaragua. Invited Presentation by Margarita Cuadra of the project results at Agri4D conference in Uppsala, Sweden. 23-24 September 2015 (http://www.siani.se/event/Agri4D2015). 

Sriskandarajah, N., Pérez, E., Cuadra, M., Hansen, H.P., Arévalo, A. 2015. Achieving conservation goals in human inhabited protected areas. The case of Zapatera National Park in Nicaragua. Symposium presentation at UNA, Nicaragua by Nadarajah Sriskandarajah. 23 June 2015. 

Lennart Salomonsson, Margarita Cuadra, Girmay Tesfay, Charles Seskyewa, Bryan Mendieta, Charles Francis, Geir Lieblein, Tor Arvid Breland. 2014. Bridging field experience and academia: an international agroecology doctoral programme. In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 3, Thuenen Report, no. 20