Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

IFAS

Type	federal-state-county partnership
Established	1964
Dean	Dr. Jack Payne (Senior Vice President)
Academic staff	572 (state), 293 (county)
Administrative staff	1,102
Students	5,100
Location	Gainesville, Florida, US
Website	www.ifas.ufl.edu

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 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. 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.

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. IFAS sponsored research awards in the 2008-09 year exceeded $120 million.

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.