The general attitude towards nature and the environment has undergone a vital change over the last few decades. Today, it is clear to everyone that the resources of the Earth are limited. We realise that we only have them on loan.
High productivity is still a main objective, but now on nature's own conditions.
SLU is a young university, but with strong roots stretching into the past. It was formed in 1977 through the joining together of three previously independent university colleges, the oldest one dating back to 1775. The nation-wide character of the university activities is one of its great strengths, as this provides the opportunity to study agriculture and forestry in the very diverse ecosystems of Northern and Southern Sweden. We have by tradition always been a university for the area-dependent sectors, such as agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine. We take an active part in various environmental monitoring programmes aiming to describe and assess the condition of the Swedish environment.