About CUL

CUL, The Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, is located at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). CUL was established in autumn 1997. It is managed by a director (Susanne Johansson) and a reference group. The work at CUL is carried out by a small permanent staff together with many collaborators. A few researchers are located in CULs premises (although they are employed by other departments). These researchers have choosen CUL as their working place because they consider CUL as the perfect spot for interdisciplinary work, co-operation, and ecxchanging knowledge and information. CUL, on its own, does not do research.

CUL aims to:

• increase the knowledge needed to achieve 20 % organic farming of the total arable land in Sweden in by 2010
• contribute with knowledge so that the whole agriculture sector develops towards a higher degree of sustainability.

The Centre has developed research programmes for priority fields within organic agriculture. The present programme includes both research on farm level and research on farming systems in connection with surrounding ecosystems and society. The programme deals both with short-term and long-term perspectives.

The activities at the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture are financed by the Swedish government, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas) and the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

CULs four main areas of activity

CUL works for the purpose to develop organic farming. This is for example done through communication, long-term competence building and by initiating research and education.

1. Research – co-ordination and initiation
CUL is responsible for an organ of co-operation that works to co-ordinate research within the field of organic farming in Sweden. CUL also initiates research within the research field.

2. Education – co-ordination and initiation
Co-ordination and initiation of education within the field of organic farming is an important part of CULs work. It is likely that this work contributes to an increased and better knowledge about organic agriculture in the society.

3. Communication work
CUL:s communication work contribute to an increased knowledge about organic farming in the society. CUL organises seminars, workshops and conferences and thereby gives the opportunity for discussion and communication. CUL also make different publications (although most are in swedish).

4. Development work
CULs work to contribute to the development of organic farming is characterized by:
- openness, that is gathering of and exchanging ideas, materials, knowledge and experiences from/between different participants in the society,
- processing and analysing available information and knowledge, but also the need for new knowledge and research assignments,
- mediation of knowledge and information.

CULs development work is thus based on the other three areas of activity (see above): research, education and the communication work.