Source(s):
Joe Joyce (352) 392-1971
Don Poucher (352) 392-0437

TALLAHASSEE—A University of Florida official proposed today (Nov. 3) what he says is a UF plan to define Florida’s evolution into the 21st Century. Speaking before the Florida Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Services, Joe Joyce, UF executive associate vice president for agriculture and natural resources, outlined a long range plan for the UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) called Florida FIRST — Focusing IFAS Resources on Solutions for Tomorrow.

“Florida FIRST is a public-private partnership that draws on the core strengths and values to enhance the IFAS land-grant mission of shaping Florida’s future and serving its people,” said Joyce.

“Through Florida FIRST, IFAS has a role to harness forces for change to help Florida expand domestic and international business. It also emphasizes the need to enhance Florida’s natural resources, provide consumers with a wide variety of safe and affordable foods, support community development, maintain a sustainable food and fiber system, and improve the quality of life in general,” he said.

The Florida FIRST plan outlined by Joyce advances special “imperatives” or objectives in key areas such as water quality and allocation; plant, animal and human protection from pests; human impacts on ecosystems; Florida’s global agriculture competitiveness; food safety and nutrition; human resource development; society-ready graduates; and public policy issues.

Joyce said the major imperatives were identified through a series of “conversations with the people of Florida”, including a statewide meeting with 250 IFAS clientele and a series of 18 area meetings throughout the state.

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