# Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

> agriculture, life science, pathogen, and invasive species research facility in Florida affiliated with University of Florida

**Wikidata**: [Q16969547](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16969547)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Food_and_Agricultural_Sciences)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/institute-of-food-and-agricultural-sciences

## Summary
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is a research and academic unit affiliated with the University of Florida that focuses on agriculture, life sciences, pathogens, and invasive species research in Florida. Founded in 1964 and based in Gainesville, Florida, IFAS operates as a university-level food safety and agricultural research organization.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1964.  
- Affiliated with the University of Florida and described as a university and a food safety organization.  
- Located in Gainesville, Florida, United States.  
- Commonly known by the alias "IFAS."  
- Official website: http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/ (English).  
- Twitter handle: @UF_IFAS (account verified; active since 2011-08-24).  
- Facebook page: UFIFASNews.  
- ISNI: 0000000121884878.  
- VIAF ID: 153488413.  
- Freebase ID: /m/0271s72.  
- Ringgold ID: 53701 (listed as "University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences").  
- Library of Congress authority ID: n79055730.  
- Social media follower counts reported: 8,731 (point in time 2020-04-27); 9,436 (point in time 2021-01-05); 11,004 (point in time 2022-02-25); 12,605 (point in time 2023-02-02, preferred).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)?
A: IFAS is a University of Florida-affiliated research and academic unit that conducts work in agriculture, life sciences, pathogen research, and invasive species in Florida. It is classified as a university-level and food safety organization.

### Q: Where and when was IFAS established?
A: IFAS was founded in 1964 and is located in Gainesville, Florida, United States.

### Q: How can I find IFAS online or follow its updates?
A: The official website is http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/. IFAS maintains social accounts including Twitter (@UF_IFAS) and Facebook (UFIFASNews), with follower counts reported at multiple dates (most recently 12,605 as of 2023-02-02).

### Q: What official identifiers exist for IFAS?
A: IFAS is indexed under multiple authority and organization identifiers, including ISNI 0000000121884878, VIAF ID 153488413, Freebase ID /m/0271s72, Ringgold ID 53701, and Library of Congress authority ID n79055730.

## Why It Matters
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences represents the University of Florida’s organized effort to study and address topics central to Florida’s agriculture and biological environment. By focusing on agriculture, life sciences, pathogen research, and invasive species, IFAS concentrates expertise and resources on issues that affect crop and animal health, ecosystem balance, and food safety within the state. Its presence within a major public university links research, academic instruction, and public-facing information through an institutional structure recognized by multiple national and international identifiers (ISNI, VIAF, Ringgold, Library of Congress). The institution’s online and social media presence provides channels for disseminating research findings, outreach, and stakeholder engagement. For researchers, policymakers, and residents concerned with agricultural productivity, biological threats, or invasive species management in Florida, IFAS serves as an identifiable institutional source of research and expertise.

## Notable For
- Formal affiliation with the University of Florida and classification as both a university unit and a food safety organization.  
- Focused research scope explicitly including agriculture, life sciences, pathogens, and invasive species in Florida.  
- Established institutional presence since 1964 and based in Gainesville, Florida.  
- Documented and citable international and national identifiers (ISNI, VIAF, Ringgold, LOC).  
- Active public-facing communications, including an official website and verified social media accounts.

## Body

### Overview
- Name: Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (commonly IFAS).  
- Role: Research and academic unit affiliated with the University of Florida.  
- Primary focus areas listed in official description: agriculture, life science, pathogen, and invasive species research.  
- Classification: Instance of "university" and "food safety organization" in structured records.

### History and founding
- Inception year: 1964.

### Location
- Country: United States.  
- City: Gainesville, Florida.

### Classification and identifiers
- ISNI: 0000000121884878.  
- VIAF ID: 153488413.  
- Freebase ID: /m/0271s72.  
- Ringgold ID: 53701 (qualified as "University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences").  
- Library of Congress authority ID: n79055730.  
- BnF ID: 12436158s.  
- idref ID: 033500991.  
- BHL creator ID: 273666.  
- Microsoft Academic (discontinued) ID: 188517813.  
- Open Funder Registry Funder ID: 100007861.  
- Yale Lux ID: group/9c43ffef-c412-467d-b1ce-5c8c6b1bf553.

### Online presence and social media
- Official website: http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/ (English).  
- Twitter: @UF_IFAS — verified account; account start date recorded as 2011-08-24.  
- Facebook: UFIFASNews.  
- Reported social media follower counts at recorded dates:  
  - 8,731 (point in time: 2020-04-27).  
  - 9,436 (point in time: 2021-01-05).  
  - 11,004 (point in time: 2022-02-25).  
  - 12,605 (point in time: 2023-02-02; marked preferred).

### Research focus
- Described in structured description as a facility for agriculture, life science, pathogen, and invasive species research in Florida.  
- Operates within the University of Florida organizational context.

### Reference and metadata counts
- Sitelink count: 3.  
- Wikipedia title: "Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences."  
- Wikimedia Commons category: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.  
- Available language links include English and Arabic (per stored metadata).

## References

1. [Source](http://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20170101-links.txt.gz)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. [Source](http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/)
5. Open Funder Registry
6. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
7. ROR release v2.5
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File