University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

What University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences does

The University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) is an academic unit within UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, established in 1937. It operates three integrated program areas — Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Forest Resources and Conservation, and Geomatics — delivering the Land Grant tripartite mission of teaching, research, and extension. The school serves undergraduate and graduate students, K-12 youth, private forest landowners, the aquaculture industry (ornamental, shellfish, food), natural resource agencies, and surveying professionals, with a statewide physical footprint spanning at least 12 sites including the 2,600-acre Austin Cary Forest teaching forest, the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin, the Millhopper facility with 30+ ponds and a fish hatchery, and seven Research and Education Centers.

The school's underlying technology consists of specialized research infrastructure rather than commercial software: aquatic laboratories covering fish health, genetics, reproductive physiology, water chemistry, and algal/microbiological culture; the world's largest cryo-preserved collection of bark and ambrosia beetles (20,000+ vials, 150,000 beetles); a six-and-a-half-acre fish farm with 48 ponds and five greenhouses; an applied Native Plant Nursery producing 125,000+ plants across 120+ species; and the Reed Lab geomatics computing facility. Notable technical components include the Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program (CFGRP, formed 1953) for slash and loblolly pine breeding, and the cryo-preserved molluscan germplasm research program.

SFFGS operates a non-commercial public sector business model. Funding flows through state appropriations via UF/IFAS, competitive federal grants (USDA, NOAA, NSF), private foundation grants, donations/endowments processed through UF/IFAS Development, and minor program fees (e.g., $10/youth for Fishing for Success field trips, $7/angler for fishing-only visits, public plant sale proceeds of $87K over 2021-2025). Go-to-market is essentially mission-driven: extension activities are delivered through UF/IFAS county offices, 4-H networks, industry workshops, and direct program delivery at facilities. There are no commercial pricing models, no proprietary product licensing, and no venture or private equity ownership. Customer segments are diversified across persona types (students, youth) and business units (private landowners, aquaculture industry, government agencies), with no commercial anchors.

Name

University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

Legal name

University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

Website

https://ffgs.ifas.ufl.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) is a 1937-founded UF/IFAS academic unit delivering teaching, research, and extension in fisheries, forestry, and geomatics across a statewide network of facilities, serving students, K-12 youth, landowners, and the aquaculture industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Resource Sciences Higher Education and Extension

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Aquaculture (11251), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMABAD

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/STEM Enrichment & Science Programs

SECONDARYEDAMABAB

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/STEM Enrichment & Science Programs

SECONDARYTHAAAOAA

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development)

SECONDARYEDAOAOAK

Aquaculture & Fisheries Operations

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Agriculture, Horticulture & Skilled Trades

SECONDARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

Keywords

• Natural resource education
• Fisheries and aquatic sciences
• Forest resources conservation
• Geomatics surveying programs
• Agricultural extension services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. University Funding and State Appropriations: As a unit of UF/IFAS, the school receives funding through University of Florida state appropriations and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences budget allocation.
2. Grants and Sponsored Research: Faculty generate research funding through competitive grants from federal agencies (USDA, NOAA, NSF), state agencies, and private foundations. The school has generated $87,000 through public plant sales reinvested into operations.
3. Program Fees: Field trip fees of $10 per youth for 3-hour programs (including two educational activities and fishing) and $7 per angler for fishing-only visits (1 hour) for Fishing for Success programs.
4. Donations and Endowments: The school accepts donations through UF/IFAS Development for various programs including the Sharon Fitz-Coy Memorial Award endowment and general program support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences delivers higher-education academic programs (undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and online) and applied research across fisheries and aquatic sciences, forest resources and conservation, and geomatics, combined with a statewide extension and outreach program including youth education, workforce development for the surveying industry, aquaculture diagnostics, forest stewardship assistance, and ecological restoration support. Services are delivered through UF's Gainesville campus, seven Research and Education Centers across Florida, the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, the Austin Cary Forest, the Millhopper facility, and partner county extension offices.

Product overview

The University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) is an academic unit within UF/IFAS offering three integrated academic programs (Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Forest Resources and Conservation, and Geomatics), supported by numerous extension programs and research facilities. The school operates extension programs including Fishing for Success (youth education), Geomatics Extension (surveying workforce development), Forest Health and Stewardship, Aquaculture and Aquatic Animal Health, Fisheries and Aquatic Stewardship, Urbanized Systems, and Community Capacity Building. Key facilities include Austin Cary Forest (2,600-acre teaching forest), the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin, Roland T. Stern Learning Center, and multiple Research and Education Centers across Florida. The school also houses the Native Plant Nursery Project, which has produced over 125,000 native plants for restoration research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Academic Program
• Forest Resources and Conservation Academic Program
• Geomatics Academic Program
• Fishing for Success Youth Education Program
• UF/IFAS Native Plant Nursery Project
• Geomatics Extension
• Forest Health and Stewardship Extension
• Aquaculture and Aquatic Animal Health Extension
• Fisheries and Aquatic Stewardship Extension
• Urbanized Systems Extension
• Community Capacity Building Extension
• Youth Education Programs Programs including Project Learning Tree and Fishing for Success that increase youth knowledge of environmental and aquaculture topics, along with professional development for educators. Targets K-12 schools, 4-H programs, and educators.
• Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (TAL) Diagnostic and Research Services Facility in Ruskin, Florida providing 5,000 square feet of office and disease lab space plus a six-and-a-half-acre fish farm with 48 ponds, five greenhouses, fish quarantine space, and research facilities for fresh, brackish, and seawater studies. Hosts USDA Wildlife Services and USDA APHIS Veterinary Services personnel. Supports ornamental aquaculture research and industry diagnostics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fishing for Success reaches approximately 10,000 youth annually (8,000 on-site, 2,000 off-site)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership at the Center for Conservation at Apollo Beach, where the FWC operates research and rehabilitation aquaria and a fish hatchery. The school collaborates closely on restoration aquaculture initiatives and FWC Freshwater Fisheries Research Section is co-located at the Millhopper campus.
• Florida AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership at the Center for Conservation at Apollo Beach where the Florida Aquarium operates research and rehabilitation facilities alongside FWC. School faculty and graduate students are embedded in restoration aquaculture research at this facility.
• Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration with FWC's research arm. FWRI Freshwater Fisheries Research Section is co-located with the program at Millhopper campus, and faculty and graduate students are embedded in the FWRI Marine Fisheries Research Section in St. Petersburg.
• USDA Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Kids in the Woods (KIW) program with USDA Forest Service, providing outdoor education modules to elementary and middle school students. Also partner on the Southern Fire Exchange and ProForest programs.
• Tall Timbers Research StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partner on fire ecology and Southern Fire Exchange initiatives.
• 4-H Youth Development ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for youth education programs including Fishing for Success and environmental education curricula delivery throughout Florida.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Fishing for Success on educational programs and community fishing events.
• Ducks UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Fishing for Success on educational programs and events.
• USDA Wildlife ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMaintains regional programs office at the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin.
• USDA APHIS Veterinary ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUSDA has added veterinarians including the Aquaculture Program Leader and Aquaculture Import/Export Coordinator at the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory.
• Nature Conservancy (Florida)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Florida Conservation Exchange (ConX) program for natural resource and land manager training.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for restoration aquaculture projects including coral reef restoration, seagrass population enhancement, and bay scallop restoration.
• Austin Cary ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal UF partnership for restoration projects and native seed collection. Site for Groundcover Restoration & Enhancement Workshop (GREW) and other training events.
• Ordway-Swisher Biological StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in seed collection and native plant research initiatives.
• North America Treaty Level (NATL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in restoration projects including NATL Meadow Installation (10,000+ plants on 1 acre).
• USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in forest genetics research through the Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program (CFGRP).
• Florida Agricultural & Mechanical UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the USDA Forest Service/Florida A&M cooperative degree program for diversity in natural resources.
• Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program (CFGRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership formed in 1953 between the school, state agencies, industrial forest management companies, and seedling vendors for slash pine and loblolly pine breeding and deployment.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NC State College of Natural Resources: Multi-disciplinary natural resources college covering forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and geomatics/sensing with strong extension and research infrastructure — directly comparable academic scope.
• Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife: Land-grant fisheries and wildlife program with strong extension footprint and research stations — comparable academic and extension model, especially for the fisheries side of FFGS.
• Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment: Land-grant natural resources college with research, teaching, and extension across fisheries, forestry, wildlife, and geospatial sciences — comparable integrated three-mission structure.
• University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources: Southeastern land-grant natural resources school with integrated programs in forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and outreach — comparable in scope and Southeastern U.S. focus.
• Cornell University Department of Natural Resources and the Environment: Land-grant natural resources department with research, teaching, and extension across aquatic, forest, and wildlife disciplines — directly comparable academic and outreach structure.
• Colorado State University Warner College of Natural Resources: Natural resources college offering forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and geospatial sciences with extension programs — direct peer in academic and outreach structure.
• Oregon State University College of Forestry: A leading land-grant forestry and natural resources college with research forests, extension programs, and academic offerings in forest management, wildlife, and aquatic sciences — directly comparable to FFGS in mission and structure.
• Texas A&M University Department of Ecosystem Science and Management: Large land-grant department integrating forestry, ecology, and natural resource management with statewide extension presence — closely mirrors FFGS's structure.
• University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences: Land-grant college covering forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and natural resource management with strong extension and field stations — comparable integrated three-mission model.

Broad incumbents

• Yale School of the Environment: Elite, broader environmental school offering forestry, wildlife, and aquatic programs with significantly larger endowment — overlaps in mission but at a much larger and more research-intensive scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/136839776970186
• Instagraminstagram.com/ufforestryclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-florida-school-of-forest-fisheries-and-geomatics-sciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences