The Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS) results from the merger of three Departments of the University of Milan: DIPSA (Department of Protection of Agri-food and Urban Systems and Enhancement of Biodiversity), DISMA (Department of Agri-food Molecular Sciences) and DISTAM (Department of Food Sciences and Microbiological Technologies). The merger was aimed to guarantee the continuity of research activities carried out in every single Department about food and agri-environmental topics. 

Research activities - carried out in cooperation with private companies and local authorities - consist in national and international projects co-financed by the Ministry for the University and Research, the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry of Health and the European Union.