Global Food Systems Institute UF

What Global Food Systems Institute UF does

The Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI) is a research and extension unit within the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), originally established in 2019 as the Food Systems Institute and renamed in 2022 to reflect its global scope. It operates as a collaborative hub uniting UF faculty, students, staff, and Extension professionals across biophysical, economic, and social sciences into transdisciplinary teams addressing food insecurity, livestock productivity, malnutrition, and climate adaptation. The institute organizes work through four thematic areas (Global and Local Food and Nutrition Security; Food Production and Distribution Systems; Health Economics, Livelihoods and Society; Food Systems and the Environment) and six Regional Working Groups covering Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, MENA, South/Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. Primary beneficiaries are smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and food-insecure populations in the Global South.

GFSI's core technical programs include a Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) Technologies Evaluation project in Tanzania (2023-2026) deploying SmaXtec rumen bolus sensors and Ceres satellite-linked ear tags for real-time livestock health, feed intake, heat detection, and behavior monitoring; a Digital Twin platform simulating national food-health systems with AI-driven predictions; the EQUIP FEED initiative piloting corn silage-based total mixed rations in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia; and the Brain Food Initiative (Phase I: Fall 2025 - Spring 2027) co-led with UF's College of Public Health and Health Professions and the One Health Center of Excellence to address childhood stunting. Training and knowledge exchange are delivered through 12-week international fellowships (e.g., Advancing Agricultural Excellence), the annual Future of Food Forum, and extension programs, with 53 food systems courses available across UF/IFAS.

The institute is a non-commercial public entity with no product revenue. Funding flows from competitive grants (most notably a multi-year Gates Foundation award for PLF), UF Strategic Investment allocations (for Brain Food), and philanthropic donations channeled via the University of Florida Foundation. The core team comprises approximately 9 staff — Director/AVP Adegbola Adesogan, Associate Directors Gopal Kakani and Norma Samuel, a Project Manager, Research Assistant, Communications Assistant, Research Administrator, and Administrative Assistant — supported by an affiliated faculty network across UF/IFAS departments and a broader ecosystem of international partners led by NM-AIST in Arusha, Tanzania.

Name

Global Food Systems Institute UF

Legal name

Global Food Systems Institute - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Website

https://foodsystems.ifas.ufl.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI) at UF/IFAS is a non-commercial research and extension hub that connects University of Florida faculty, students, and global partners to develop science-based solutions for food security, livestock productivity, and nutrition in the Global South.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Education

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Security, Agriculture & Nutrition Aid Programs (BPADABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Results-Based Financing (RBF) & Performance-Based Grants (BPADAOAF), International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO)

Keywords

• Food systems research
• Precision livestock farming
• Agricultural extension services
• Global food security
• Capacity building fellowships

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Foundation Funding: Primary funding from competitive grants and foundation support. The PLF project is funded by the Gates Foundation (4-year project 2023-2026). Brain Food Initiative is funded by UF Strategic Investment.
2. Donor Contributions: Philanthropic donations from individuals and organizations supporting global food systems transformation. Donors can direct contributions to specific regions, thematic areas, or capacity-building fellowships.
3. University Land Grant Mission Support: Building on UF's land-grant mission through teaching, research, and Extension components funded by the university.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GFSI is a university research institute that coordinates transdisciplinary research, teaching, and extension programs to address global food systems challenges. It delivers grant-funded research projects (Precision Livestock Farming, EQUIP FEED, Brain Food Initiative), runs international fellowships and capacity-building programs, maintains dashboards of affiliated experts and food systems courses, and convenes stakeholders through Regional Working Groups and the Future of Food Forum.

Product overview

The Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI) at UF/IFAS is a collaborative research and educational hub focused on global food systems transformation. It does not offer commercial products or services; instead, it operates research initiatives, training programs, forums, and knowledge-sharing platforms. The institute facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration among faculty, students, and extension professionals through thematic areas (Global and Local Food and Nutrition Security, Food Production and Distribution Systems, Health Economics Livelihoods and Society, Food Systems and the Environment), regional working groups (Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, South and Southeast Asia, Caribbean), and various project-based initiatives including the Precision Livestock Farming project, EQUIP FEED, Brain Food Initiative, and Advancing Agricultural Excellence training program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision Livestock Farming Technologies Evaluation in Africa (PLF) A Gates Foundation-funded multi-year research project (2023-2026) evaluating precision livestock farming technologies including SmaXtec rumen bolus sensors and Ceres satellite-linked ear tags among smallholder dairy farmers and pastoralists in northern Tanzania, in partnership with Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST).
• Brain Food Initiative A UF Strategic Investment-funded interdisciplinary initiative (Phase I: Fall 2025 - Spring 2027) co-led by GFSI and the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, with the One Health Center of Excellence, to address childhood stunting and malnutrition through One Health approaches linking agriculture, nutrition, and cognitive development.
• EQUIP FEED Project A feed innovation research project piloting corn silage-based total mixed rations and digital performance tracking at commercial farms in Nigeria (L and Z Integrated Farms, Amo Byng Nigeria Ltd, Milkin Barn Agriserve Dairy Farms), with additional activities in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.
• Advancing Agricultural Excellence Fellowship A 12-week international fellowship program bringing Global South fellows to the University of Florida for capacity-building training in agricultural excellence.
• Future of Food Forum The institute's flagship annual one-day forum bringing together academics, students, business leaders, farmers, growers, and policymakers to discuss food systems transformation.
• Regional Working Groups Program A coordinated program of six Regional Working Groups (Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, MENA, South/Southeast Asia, Caribbean) that facilitate context-specific food systems solutions and coordinated action with regional partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 144 million children affected by stunting globally - GFSI Brain Food Initiative addresses this through improved nutrition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Main implementing partner for Precision Livestock Farming Technologies Evaluation in Africa project. Located in Arusha, Tanzania, NM-AIST hosts the PLF Innovation Hub featuring a living lab, extension officer training, and data center services. Dr. Gabriel Shirima serves as Principal Investigator of Livestock Farming at NM-AIST.
• SmaXteccoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider for rumen bolus sensors that measure direct values in the reticulum, transmitting data to smaXtec cloud accessible via phone app. Used for livestock health monitoring, feed intake tracking, heat detection, and methane output estimation in Tanzania and Florida research.
• Ceres TagcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider for satellite-linked ear tags tracking animal walking, grazing, resting, and ruminating behavior. Real-time data accessible 24/7 for resource monitoring and animal health monitoring in pastoral systems research.
• Center for African Studies, University of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the top African Studies centers in the US, providing resources, knowledge, and expertise to support interdisciplinary approaches to food system challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa and facilitate sustainable collaborations with African institutions.
• UF College of Public Health and Health Professions (PHHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead of Brain Food Initiative with GFSI, combining expertise in nutrition, epidemiology, and public health with agricultural sciences to address childhood stunting through One Health approaches.
• One Health Center of Excellence, University of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating unit in Brain Food Initiative, bringing interdisciplinary expertise in human, animal, and environmental health to address malnutrition and cognitive development.
• L and Z Integrated Farms, NigeriamajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommercial farm in Kano State participating in EQUIP FEED Nigeria project, piloting corn silage-based total mixed rations. Part of private sector-led feed innovation implementation.
• Amo Byng Nigeria LtdmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommercial farm in Oyo State selected for EQUIP FEED Nigeria feed innovation pilot, testing interventions using digital performance-tracking apps.
• Milkin Barn Agriserve Dairy FarmsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommercial dairy farm in Ogun State participating in EQUIP FEED project with 90-day feeding trials and mobile performance monitoring.
• Kilimanjaro FreshmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in dairy research and smart farming technology implementation in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania for urban and peri-urban dairy farming systems.
• National Ranching Company Ltd (NARCO), TanzaniamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational ranching company collaborating in dairy research and PLF technology evaluation for improved livestock productivity in Tanzania.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA): Africa-focused agricultural development organization funded heavily by Gates Foundation. Shares GFSI's Sub-Saharan Africa smallholder focus, donor profile, and emphasis on productivity and resilience.
• WorldFish: CGIAR-affiliated research organization focused on aquatic food systems in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Comparable as a globally distributed, donor-funded research entity addressing food security through specialized production systems.
• CGIAR: Global agricultural research partnership operating across the same regions GFSI targets (Sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, Latin America). Both are mission-driven, grant-funded research consortia focused on food security, livestock productivity, and smallholder livelihoods.
• International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): CGIAR center focused specifically on livestock in developing countries. ILRI's livestock productivity, animal health, and smallholder systems work directly parallels GFSI's Precision Livestock Farming project in Tanzania.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): Research institute delivering policy-oriented food systems analysis with strong donor funding and Global South country presence. Comparable in operating model, donor mix (Gates-adjacent funding), and emphasis on nutrition-food systems linkages like GFSI's Brain Food Initiative.
• Cornell CALS Global Development: Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences runs extensive international food systems programs with significant Gates and foundation funding. Comparable as a competing land-grant hub competing for similar global program grants.
• UC Davis World Food Center: Land-grant university institute coordinating multidisciplinary food systems research, teaching, and extension with global partnerships. The closest U.S. peer in institutional structure and land-grant mission alignment.
• Michigan State University Global Center for Food Systems Innovation: MSU's food systems programs are similarly positioned as land-grant extension-and-research engines working on Global South agriculture, livestock, and nutrition challenges.

Emerging players

• SmaXtec: Provider of the rumen bolus sensor technology GFSI deploys in its PLF project. Not a competitor but a key technology partner whose commercial animal-health monitoring platform overlaps thematically with GFSI's precision livestock research.

Broad incumbents

• FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Organization): Multilateral body coordinating global food security, nutrition, and agricultural development programs. Operates at vastly larger scale than GFSI but shares the food systems transformation mandate and works with overlapping partner countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UF_IFAS_GFSI
• Facebookfacebook.com/Global.Food.Systems.UF.IFAS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-food-systems-institute-uf
• Instagraminstagram.com/ufifas_gfsi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Food Systems Institute UF