Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota

Name

Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota

Legal name

Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota

Website

https://horticulture.umn.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Agricultural Research

NAICS

Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Horticulture, Nursery & Greenhouse Operations (EDAOAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forest Nurseries, Seed Orchards & Genetic Improvement (AFAMAAAD), Soil Testing, pH Adjustment & Soil Amendments (Lime/Gypsum/Organic Matter) (HSAIAGAC)

Keywords

• Horticultural science education
• Plant breeding research
• Agricultural extension services
• Applied plant sciences
• Cultivar development

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government/Public Funding: Primary funding through University of Minnesota as a land-grant institution, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, and state/federal research grants
2. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate student tuition, professional development programs, and continuing education courses
3. Donations and Endowments: Gifts supporting students, research projects, and programs through the University of Minnesota Foundation including various endowed chairs and scholarship funds
4. Cultivar Licensing: Revenue from licensing of patented plant cultivars including chrysanthemums, dahlias, and other ornamental and food crops developed by faculty
5. Extension Services: Research and outreach activities through six Research and Outreach Centers across Minnesota providing applied research to commercial growers and industry

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Department of Horticultural Science is an academic unit within the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, conducts applied plant sciences research, and delivers extension/outreach to growers and the public. Core activities include plant breeding and genetics, plant growth and development, sustainable horticulture, and human dimensions of horticulture research, supported by 75,000+ sq ft of greenhouse space, a 1,000+ acre Landscape Arboretum, and a 230-acre Horticultural Research Center. The department generates patented plant cultivars (chrysanthemums, dahlias, grapes, apples, blueberries) and supports the Minnesota agricultural industry through field days, trials, webinars, and the Master Gardener program.

Product overview

The Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota is an academic department offering undergraduate and graduate educational programs along with applied research. The portfolio includes Plant Science and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems undergraduate majors, a Horticulture Minor (available online or in-person), graduate programs (Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture, Applied Plant Sciences), and research spanning Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Growth and Development, Sustainable Horticulture, and Human Dimensions of Horticulture. The department also offers a Coursera specialization called 'Introduction to Ecological Gardening' for public online learning, and operates the Student Learning Garden and Student Organic Farm as hands-on educational facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Introduction to Ecological Gardening Specialization A four-course Coursera specialization teaching ecological gardening skills including soil test interpretation, climate-based plant selection, chemical-free pest management, and garden planning. Designed for the general public and learners globally.
• Plant Science Major Undergraduate major studying how plants are used to produce food, alter environments, restore landscapes, improve human health and well-being, and provide recreational benefits.
• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Major Interdisciplinary undergraduate major addressing food equity and food justice through sustainable agriculture practices, examining production, marketing, distribution, consumption, and post-consumption from scientific and humanistic perspectives.
• Horticulture Minor Academic minor available fully online or in-person, teaching students about plants and their many uses in the landscape.
• Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture Professional graduate degree designed to enhance capacity of those working in the horticulture industry or those seeking new careers, starting businesses, or pursuing personal interests. Designed for working professionals with part-time options.
• Applied Plant Sciences Graduate Program Inter-departmental graduate program administered jointly by Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics and Department of Horticultural Science, allowing integrated individualized programs combining courses from multiple disciplines.
• Plant Breeding and Genetics Research Program Breeding and genetics research in apples, grapes, flowers, woody landscape plants, tomatoes, dry beans, and turf and ornamental grasses, developing plants for climatic extremes with low inputs.
• Plant Growth and Development Research Program Research spanning molecule to ecosystem on mechanisms governing plant growth and development, including phytohormone biochemistry, plant metabolomics, controlled environments, and plant stress physiology.
• Sustainable Horticulture Research Program Research on sustainable horticultural practices addressing diminishing resources, climate change, and invasive species through soil agroecology, controlled environment agriculture, organic horticulture, and landscape horticulture.
• Human Dimensions of Horticulture Research Program Research integrating economics, marketing, behavioral science, and socio-ecological-technological systems to examine decision-making by breeders, growers, land managers, policymakers, and consumers.
• Student Learning Garden Hands-on learning garden established in late 1970s, preparing students for horticultural careers through intern programs with practical landscape planning, maintenance, and public outreach experience.
• Student Organic Farm Student-run organic farm providing hands-on experience in organic agriculture production and management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cold-hardy Marquette grape developed and released 20 years ago, now shaping cold-climate wine industry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CourseracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2026Platform partnership for Introduction to Ecological Gardening Specialization; free for UMN faculty, staff, and students; extends educational reach globally
• Horticultural Research Center (HRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1908230 acres dedicated to breeding, genetics, conservation, and management of fruit crops and woody landscape plants; houses office space, lab space, and research winery for grape breeding; founded in 1908
• Jihoceska Univerzita (University of South Bohemia), Ceske Budejovice, Czech RepublicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership; Neil Anderson holds J. William Fulbright Scholar appointment; collaborative research and educational exchange
• Gullickson, McLaughlin Gormley King, Minneapolis, MNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaboration for ornamental plant research and development
• West Virginia State University, Institute, WVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Department of Biology and Agricultural and Environmental Research Station
• Floriculture Research Center, Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, South KoreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in floriculture
• Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research and educational exchange partnership
• Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, LithuaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for plant science collaboration
• Minnesota Landscape ArboretumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatthew Clark serves as Director of Research; faculty and students conduct research on grounds; over 1,000 acres with 32 gardens, 48 plant collections; home to North American Plant Collections Consortium Grass Collection
• Minnesota Agricultural Experiment StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Plant Growth Facility with two acres of greenhouse space; supports college research and classroom activities
• Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint administration of Applied Plant Sciences graduate program
• Cornell University School of Integrative Plant ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeil Mattson (2026 Alumni Award recipient) is Professor at Cornell; greenhouse efficiency research collaboration
• White Earth Nation and Red Lake Nation CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnerships with Minnesota's native communities for agricultural research
• North Carolina State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious institutional affiliation of Julie Grossman before joining UMN; ongoing research collaboration

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• North Carolina State University Department of Horticultural Science: NC State's department shares the same name and offers comparable plant breeding, floriculture, and graduate programs. Former UMN faculty member Julie Grossman previously at NC State; multiple faculty connections.
• Michigan State University Department of Horticulture: MSU Horticulture is a leading Big Ten land-grant horticulture department with similar plant breeding, vegetable production, and extension programming in a comparable cold-climate context. Many UMN faculty trained at MSU (e.g., Dr. Vince Fritz).
• Iowa State University Department of Horticulture: Iowa State's horticulture program is a Midwest land-grant peer with comparable plant breeding, fruit, and vegetable horticulture research. Multiple UMN faculty trained there (Drs. Miller and Teh).
• Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture: Purdue's department is a peer land-grant horticulture program with applied plant sciences research, plant breeding, and graduate training similar in scope to UMN. Many UMN alumni have Purdue connections.
• Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science: OSU's department shares turfgrass (Dr. Petrella trained there), fruit breeding, and controlled environment agriculture expertise. Comparable Big Ten land-grant horticulture research portfolio.
• University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences: UW-Madison's plant sciences program is a neighboring Big Ten land-grant with strong fruit breeding (Dr. Zlesak, 2022 UMN Distinguished Alumni) and horticulture research sharing Upper Midwest climatic focus and faculty connections.
• Cornell University School of Integrative Plant Science: Cornell's plant science school offers horticulture concentrations with similar plant breeding, controlled environment, and viticulture programs. Direct academic peer with overlapping research strengths in fruit crops and greenhouse efficiency (Dr. Neil Mattson collaboration noted).

Broad incumbents

• University of Florida Horticultural Sciences Department: UF's horticulture department is a much larger subtropical-focused program with broader crop coverage. While not a direct cold-climate peer, it is one of the largest US horticulture research departments and a benchmark for applied horticultural science.
• UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences: UC Davis Plant Sciences is a leading US horticulture/plant science program with major grape breeding and viticulture overlap. The Marquette grape was developed partly in response to cold-climate alternatives to UC Davis-style vinifera breeding.

Others

• American Society for Horticultural Science: ASHS is the primary professional society for horticultural science in the US; UMN faculty are ASHS Fellows and award recipients, and former faculty member Meyer served as President (2013-2014). Industry ecosystem player connecting the department to peer institutions and growers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/envpsychmike
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/department-of-horticultural-science-umn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota