The Swedish Research Council Formas is a national research council acting under the Ministry of the Environment and Energy. Formas receives its financial allocation from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation. The mission of Formas is to promote and support basic research and need-driven research in the areas Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning. The research supported should be of highest scientific quality and of relevance to the areas of responsibility of the Council. Formas may also fund development projects to a limited extent. The work of Formas is directed both by a General Instruction drawn up by the Ministry of Environment and two Appropriation Directives one from the Ministry of the Environment and one from the Ministry for Rural Affairs.