The UF/IFAS Land Grant Mission
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) was originally established as a land-grant institution. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln created the land-grant university system by signing the first Morrill Act into law. This legislation provided 30,000 acres of land to each state to be sold, with the funds used to establish universities to teach mechanical arts, military tactics, and classical studies. Over time, the land-grant mission evolved to include growing knowledge through research and sharing that knowledge with communities through Cooperative Extension.
The Land-Grant Mission has three parts:
- Teaching—the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) teaches students and prepares them for professional careers
- Research—UF/IFAS experiment stations across the state of Florida conduct research in a variety of fields
- Extension—the Cooperative Extension service connects UF/IFAS professionals with community members to provide support and educational programs
The UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP) fulfills all three aspects of the land-grant mission.
Biologists and weed scientists research invasive plants to better understand and control their populations. Here, our researchers use their findings to inform aquatic plant managers and make recommendations for best management practices. Our associate professors also have opportunities for graduate students to gain hands-on learning in aquatic plant management. Lastly, our Extension professionals and communication specialists perform outreach and engage with community members to share information and resources.
For more information about UF/IFAS and its land-grant mission, visit the UF/IFAS CALS About page.
