The history of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), dates as far back as 1967. Between 1967 and 2016 the institution existed first as Botswana Agricultural College and then from 1991 as Botswana College of Agriculture. BUAN was established on 1st February 2016, through an Act of Parliament of Botswana No. 12 of 2015.

The University is a parastatal under the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security. The University offers certificate, higher diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the main campus in Gaborone. Short courses are offered through the Centre for In-service and Continuing Education (CICE), as well as certification in Meat Inspection at the campus in Lobatse, Meat Industry Training Institute (MITI).

Currently the University is small, and with a large majority of its students in undergraduate degrees, which has been the structure of the institution throughout most of its history. Graduates of the institution have worked extensively in government, and many have received postgraduate training outside Botswana. This has had the effect of concentrating expertise away from the private sector of agriculture, and discouraging entrepreneurial agriculture. In the future BUAN needs to produce graduates whose skills and experience meet the needs of the private sector, and who can create companies, jobs and wealth in the agriculture and natural resources sectors.