Agricultural Research

Research related to agriculture and rural issues can play an important role in an overall program to retain and enhance agriculture. Research may be conducted by public and private individuals and institutions, often through grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture or other governmental entities. Research can be used to discover methods and strategies that make local agriculture operations more competitive. Research can also be used to document and quantify the economic, community, or environmental contributions of agriculture. In Florida, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida is the primary source of agricultural research. IFAS is a federal-state-county partnership throughout Florida dedicated to improving life by developing and providing knowledge in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, and life sciences.