Below is more information about the agency, including who leads it, how many staff the department employs and what it does.
FAST FACTS
Budget: Gov. Ron DeSantis has recommended $25 million for FDACS’s IT budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Leadership: Eric Brown is the agency’s chief information officer.
Staff: According to the governor’s recommendations, the agency has 3,683 positions.
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY
In 1868, the state’s constitution created the Office of Commissioner of Immigration to attract settlers to Florida.
In 1969, 101 years later, the Division of Consumer Services and the Division of Forestry were established, resulting in the agency’s current name, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Since then, the agency’s mission has been to “support and promote Florida agriculture, protect the environment, safeguard consumers and ensure the safety and wholesomeness of food.”
The agency does this by — among other things — protecting Florida’s livestock, honeybees and crop plants from pests and diseases; assisting businesses and residents in the safe and proper use of pesticides; and analyzing more than 15,000 food samples each year to ensure food safety.
The governor’s recommendations for FDACS for FY 2025-26 include $3.6 million for IT security enhancements.
More information about the agency’s potential IT spend can be found online.
