CANR was founded in January 2005 after the release of revised university statuses in December 2004.

It emerged from the former Faculty of Agriculture, the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, and the School of Forestry.

It was formed from the former Faculty of Agriculture, the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, and the School of Forestry, Sunyani.

CANR is mandated to train and equip graduates with the requisite academic and entrepreneurial skills in the areas of agricultural production and natural resource management for sustainable national development, in addition to carrying out research and extension services in these areas.

[2] CANR is involved in a number of collaborative research projects with national and international institutions and organizations, such as the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Forestry Commission, ICRA, and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), among others.