The purpose of efnep funding is to increase the impact of nutrition education disseminated to low-income families and youth in the 50 states, the U.S. Territories, and the district of columbia

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska $618,749 under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (CFDA 10.514) on October 1, 2025, for a five-year period through September 30, 2030.

The University of Nebraska, through its Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will deliver nutrition education to low-income families and youth, with four primary performance targets: increasing the percentage of adult participants improving in one or more food security practices from 68 percent to 73 percent by 2030; increasing adult participants improving in one or more physical activity behaviors from 77 percent to 82 percent by 2030; increasing youth participants improving in one or more physical activity behaviors from 66 percent to 71 percent by 2030; and a fourth priority category the source identifies but does not complete. The work is performed in Lincoln, Nebraska, with subordinate extension activities across Nebraska counties and the university's regional field stations. EFNEP is a federal extension program operated through 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and six U.S. territories, combining hands-on learning, applied science, and program data to support participants toward nutritional health and self-sufficiency.

Activities

In the university of nebraska-lincoln (UNL) institute of agriculture and natural resources (IANR), we are all about people and the food, water and natural resources that sustain them. IANR innovation in research, teaching, and extension education places nebraska on the leading edge of food production, environmental stewardship, human nutrition, business development, and youth engagement. Composed of the college of agricultural sciences and natural resources (CASNR), the agricultural research division (ARD), nebraska extension, and the ARD and extension components of three departments in the college of education and human sciences; IANR is committed to growing the future of nebraska's people, businesses, and communities. IANR strives to combine research, teaching and extension in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment that encourages the best thinking and expertise from across the university and private enterprise to ensure nebraska's competitiveness in a world of change and challenge. Specific to efnep, nebraska main priorities fall in alignment with 1. Nutrition security increasing nutrition security for low-income. We are committed to increasing the percentage of adult participants that IMP rove in one or more food security practices from 68% to 73% by 2030. 2. Improving adult physical activity-nebraska efnep will increase the percentage of adult participants who improve in one or more physical activity behaviors from 77% to 82% by 2030. 3. Improving youth physical activity-nebraska efnep has chosen to focus on physical activity as a priority for youth participants. Nebraska efnep will increase the percentage of youth participants who improve in one or more physical activity behaviors from 66% to 71% by 2030. 4. Improving adult recruitment and reach through technology-nebraska efnep will learn best practices and utilize technology to enhance recruitment and reach of adult efnep audiences. Working with the nebraska extension communications specialist, the efnep state team and supervisors will update websites, and coordinate social media channels and class offerings to target eligible audiences. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the capacity funding IANR receives is allocated within two key, critical issues to address the above focus areas. Efnep falls under the fostering healthy and productive people focus area. This program focuses on using basic and applied research in the life/agricultural sciences to generate knowledge critical to maximizing productivity in food sciences; business/community vitality; entrepreneurship; healthy living; and development and success of young children, youth, and families. Efnep classes provide hands-on learning so adult and youth participants can gain skills and confidence in planning for, purchasing, preparing, and eating healthy meals and snacks. Participants enjoy family-based classes so families can learn, adapt and change health behaviors together - a practice backed by research to make behavior change long lasting. Parents and caregivers will be better able to man age their food resources and provide healthy meals for their families as a result of attending efnep classes. Adult participants will also improve food safety practices, including handwashing. For a comprehensive list of all outcomes, we welcome the review of IANR's annual report of accomplishments and results.

Intended beneficiaries

As nebraska's residents are the primary beneficiaries and stakeholders, there is an ongoing, two-way dialogue to ensure that ianr's priorities reflect the needs of the state.