Survey ranks UF as top university for ag research investment

For the sixth consecutive year, the University of Florida led the nation in agricultural sciences and natural resources conservation research, according to a new report from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

UF, through its Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), invested more than $261.9 million in agricultural sciences and natural resources conservation research during fiscal year 2023, according to the NSF’s recently published Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey. Other top schools and centers in the category include Texas A&M University, Colorado State University and the University of California, Davis.

The survey’s findings underscore UF’s role as a national leader of research and development, said Rob Gilbert, Ph.D., UF/IFAS dean for research and executive director for academic affairs.

“Research and development generate significant returns on investment that benefit our stakeholders in Florida, nationally and globally,” Gilbert said. “We are proud of our research enterprise and how diligently our faculty and staff work to meet the needs of our stakeholders."

Each year, the HERD survey compiles research expenditures from more than 900 U.S. colleges and universities that have spent at least $150,000 on research and development during the past fiscal year. Taken as a whole, the survey’s figures serve as a testament to the country’s investment in expanding knowledge and economic growth.

UF’s $1.25 billion in research expenditures in fiscal year 2023 placed it 15th among public universities and 25th overall. Florida’s $529.4 million in federally sponsored research ranked 33rd, up two places compared to 2022.

UF/IFAS employs nearly 600 faculty members with research appointments. Stationed on UF’s Gainesville campus and at research and education centers across the state, their work provides cutting-edge knowledge and innovation in fields including animal sciences, horticulture, food sciences and more. A variety of local, state and federal entities, as well as private individuals, provide financial support for their research.

“The state of Florida is fortunate to have the scientists of UF/IFAS, whose expertise in hundreds of commodities supports a $300 billion agricultural industry,” said David Norton, Ph.D., UF’s vice president for research. “It is clear from these numbers that funding agencies place high value on the work being conducted by our researchers, which benefits agriculture not just here in Florida, but around the country.”