Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an agriculture, life science, pathogen, and invasive species research facility in Florida affiliated with University of Florida. It is a partnership between federal, state, and county governments that includes an extension office in each of Florida's 67 counties, 13 research and education centers, several demonstration sites, the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (including the School of Forest Resources and Conservation) and the School of Natural Resources and Environment), the Center for Tropical Agriculture, portions of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, and the International Program for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources.

IFAS
TypeFederal-state-county partnership
Established1964
Vice-presidentJ. Scott Angle
Academic staff
572 (state), 293 (county)
Administrative staff
1,102
Students5,100
Postgraduates1,200
Location, ,
US
Websitewww.ifas.ufl.edu
Fifield Hall

IFAS research and development covers natural resource industries that have a $101 billion annual impact. The program is ranked #1 in the nation by the NSF.[1] Because of this mission and the diversity of Florida's climate and agricultural commodities, IFAS has facilities located throughout Florida. Starting June 1, 2010 IFAS will be under the leadership of Dr. Jack Payne, who was named Senior Vice President for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Florida on February 26, 2010.[2]

Research

The UF/IFAS research mission is to invent, discover and develop knowledge to enhance the agriculture and natural resources of Florida. Faculty members pursue fundamental and applied research that furthers understanding of natural and human systems. Research is supported by state and federally appropriated funds and supplemented by grants and contracts. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences was awarded $166 million in annual research expenditures in sponsored research for 2018.[3]

The Florida Agricultural Experiment Station administers and supports research programs in UF/IFAS. The research program was created in 1887 by federal legislation known as the Hatch Act, a follow-up to the 1862 Morrill Act that established U.S. land-grant universities. The research programs support approximately 350 full-time equivalent faculty members in 16 academic departments on UF's Gainesville campus and at 13 research and education centers around the state.

Most IFAS research can be easily accessed via the searchable UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS).

Food safety

IFAS supports one of the nation's largest collections of food safety facilities and faculty in the country, and is integral in maintaining the National Food Safety Database.

Along with researchers specializing in controlling spread of pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella, IFAS also has uniquely specialized research programs dedicated to the science of food packaging and a Center for Food Distribution and Retailing.

Cellulosic ethanol

IFAS microbiologist Lonnie Ingram holds several patents (jointly with the University of Florida) on a unique way to produce cellulosic ethanol using a genetically engineered form of E. coli to break down biomass. A cellulosic ethanol power plant utilizing this method began construction in Louisiana in 2007.

IFAS is researching how to prevent mosquitoes from carrying new forms of deadly pathogens such as avian flu and dengue fever.

Invasive species

Florida is the state most indundated with invasive plant and animal species. Nearly 85 percent of new plants entering the country travel through Miami. As such, much of the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology as well as a Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants have been dedicated to fighting this problem.

Emerging pathogens

IFAS is part of the University of Florida's Emerging Pathogens Institute. IFAS has been heavily involved in dealing with emerging food safety issues such the recent surge of E. coli and Salmonella infections due to bacteria on fresh produce served at restaurants and grocery stores.

Citrus research

Established in 1917 IFAS' Citrus Research and Education Center is the largest citrus research institution in existence with more than 40 laboratories, 250 employees, and over 220 acres (0.89 km2) of groves and greenhouses.

Avian flu

Dr. Gary Butcher is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts on poultry pathogens in the United States.

Extension

Florida oranges

The 1914 Smith-Lever Act provided federal support for land-grant institutions to offer educational programs to enhance the application of useful and practical information beyond their campuses through cooperative extension efforts with states and local communities.

UF/IFAS Extension provides Floridians with lifelong learning programs in cooperation with county government, the United States Department of Agriculture, and Florida A&M. The wide breadth of educational programming offered in each county responds to the local needs of residents, schools, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and industry.

Facilities

In addition to facilities on the University of Florida campus and Extension offices in each of Florida's 67 counties, IFAS has 1,255 buildings, 3,190,448 sq ft (296,402.3 m2) gross, and 16,591 acres (6,714 ha) throughout the state. These facilities are used for teaching, research and demonstration:

  • 16 on-campus academic departments
  • 13 Research & Education Centers (REC) located throughout the state
  • Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain)
  • 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments
  • 5 locations with statewide undergraduate degree programs

Teaching

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) offers 24 undergraduate majors and more than 53 areas of specialization, including the areas of food, agriculture, natural resources and life sciences as they relate to human resources, the environment and communities. Master's and doctoral degrees are offered in every department and school.

The college has approximately 5,000 students, including more than 1,100 graduate students. A majority are women, 30% are minorities and 9% are international students. In addition to the Gainesville campus programs, the college offers baccalaureate degrees, professional graduate degrees and teacher certification courses at five satellite sites. Distance education, via interactive video conferencing, videotape and the World Wide Web, are also offered.

Statewide programs

Recognizing the specialized needs of nontraditional students, CALS established Bachelor of Science degree programs at Fort Lauderdale, Milton, Florida, Ft. Pierce, Florida, Apopka, and Plant City. Degree programs include landscape and nursery horticulture, turfgrass science, entomology, natural resource conservation, and agribusiness management. Students must have an associate degree to enter these statewide programs. These programs are a partnership with local community colleges and our sister state universities.

Organic agriculture

The 2006 fall academic semester marked the official launch of a science-based organic agriculture undergraduate degree program at UF, making it one of the first three U.S. institutions to offer this major. Colorado State University and Washington State University began similar programs simultaneously.

College of Veterinary Medicine

The Health Science Center

The College of Veterinary Medicine is jointly administered through the university's Health Science Center and IFAS. Support from UF/IFAS includes resources for large animal disease research, undergraduate instruction and veterinary extension.

Total alumni

As of March 2008:

  • Agricultural & Life Sciences 21,877
  • Forest Resources & Conservation 2,334
  • Natural Resources & Environment 518

Note: 1,009 alumni live overseas

See also

References

  1. "NSF Ag Top 5" Archived 2009-05-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "IFAS leadership". Archived from the original on 2010-06-08. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
  3. "University of Florida smashes research awards record with $837.6 million in fiscal year 2018". University of Florida. July 31, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.

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