The Extension Center for Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (EFANS) serves Minnesota in ways that are consistent with our time-tested mission and the ever-changing needs of the state. This means finding new ways to serve the interests of rural, urban, and suburban communities. And it means finding new ways to make connections across the University of Minnesota to bring its research and resources to bear on the critical issues facing Minnesota.
The present and future relevance of EFANS is grounded in our successful past. For nearly 100 years, EFANS has brought University-based knowledge to bear on Minnesota's critical needs. As a land-grant institution, the University of Minnesota has a historically recognized, legislatively mandated responsibility to extend its knowledge resources to the people of Minnesota.
Listening to the needs and concerns of producers, processors, and consumers, we offer education relating to pre-harvest food safety, safe food processing and design, sanitation in food handling, and updates on new research in food safety.
We work to help the farmer of tomorrow meet the challenges of an increasingly large-scale and global market. Our education focuses on producing plants and animals in an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable manner by informing on topics such as precision agriculture, biotechnology, business structures, environmental stewardship practices, labor management, and off-farm income.
We're bringing you new discoveries, ideas, products, and services in natural resources and the environment. We offer programs and products designed to answer questions, solve problems, and enhance professional abilities. Whether you want to know how to protect the lake you live on, maintain the septic system you own, or learn a multitude of other skills, we can help.
Working to improve Minnesota's horticulture means both beautiful landscapes and supplying an important key in the human diet. We share expertise in the areas of home horticulture, as well as commercial fruit, flower, and vegetable production.