By:
Chuck Woods (352) 392-1773 x 281Source:
Don Poucher (352) 392-0437
GAINESVILLE —Florida FIRST, a new statewide strategic planning process for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS), was announced today (Jan. 7, 1999) by Michael Martin, UF vice president for agriculture and natural resources.
“Florida FIRST — short for Focusing IFAS Resources on Solutions for Tomorrow — will include all aspects of our statewide teaching, research and extension programs, with special emphasis on research and extension,” Martin said.
“With the new millennium just a year away, the time is right for a thorough review of our programs,” he said. “The Florida FIRST planning process will enhance the ability of UF/IFAS to carry out its state mandate of service to the food, agricultural and related natural and human resources sectors of Florida.”
Martin pointed out the planning effort is not about restructuring the organization or deleting programs, but it will be a flexible and adaptable process that will act as a springboard for future growth. All faculty and clients served by UF/IFAS will be involved.
He said the process will include an analysis of the 1997-98 UF/IFAS budget by function/unit/subject matter and commodity. Support and administrative operations also will be analyzed, and Florida research and education programs will be compared with those in other states.
The UF vice president outlined major phases of the planning process, starting with committees that are now preparing base papers for major commodity areas and related subsectors. The papers will include analyses of current situations, trends and major factors affecting change. These “determinants of change” identify major technological, institutional, human capital and natural resource forces affecting each subsector.
The nine major subsectors include: (1) animals (beef, dairy, horses, poultry and other livestock); (2) field crops (sugarcane and other field crops); (3) forage crops; (4) citrus and other fruit crops; (5) vegetable crops; (6) ornamental horticulture; (7) turfgrass; (8) forestry; and (9) aquaculture, fisheries and wildlife.
Once base papers have been developed by UF/IFAS faculty in cooperation with industry and government leaders, there will be a state conference to identify critical research and extension needs or “imperatives” for the next five to 10 years and beyond, Martin said. The conference will be held May 20-21 at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa
-30-
0
