Growing the future of corn
Training the next generation of corn breeders, finding sustainable solutions for growers, our waters, climate, and finding new ways to keep family farms in communities
Corn is the single largest crop grown in Minnesota, with more than 8.9 million acres planted across the state. It’s woven into Minnesota life — from summer corn roasts and the State Fair to fall harvest festivals. It’s also an economic powerhouse, supporting ethanol production, livestock agriculture, corn chips, and more than 4,000 products, including batteries, crayons, makeup, carpet, and even shoes. Minnesota’s corn exports are worth more than $1.69 billion.
At the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), researchers, students, and alumni are at the forefront of exploring this vital crop’s challenges and possibilities. In Candice Hirsch’s lab, students learn plant genetics and breeding while gaining hands-on experience solving real-world problems alongside international food companies. It’s an example of how CFANS turns discovery into opportunity, preparing students to make a difference in Minnesota and beyond.
Sustainability demands solutions that cross traditional boundaries. Atmospheric scientists, soil scientists, agronomists, and hydrologists are working together to mitigate the environmental impacts of nitrogen fertilizer. Through interdisciplinary scholarship, CFANS brings together diverse perspectives and expertise to tackle complex agricultural challenges and develop solutions that no single discipline could achieve alone. And when it comes to economic and community sustainability, CFANS alumni are drawing inspiration from the fields of Switzerland to discover new sources of income and new opportunities for fun on the family farm.
This is Elevate Extraordinary in action: advancing groundbreaking research, creating immersive learning experiences, and translating knowledge into sustainable solutions that strengthen Minnesota’s agriculture, economy, and communities.
Explore how CFANS is elevating extraordinary insights and solutions in Minnesota’s cornfields.
