A canard foreplane may be used for various reasons such as lift, (in)stability, trim, flight control, or to modify airflow over the main wing.

What are canards used for?

Canards are part of an airplane that functions as a stabilizer or elevator and installed in front of the main wing. A canard is used for several reasons such as increasing lifting force, the stability of the aircraft's controls and flow changes over the main wing.

Are canards more efficient?

Yes a canard will be used to lift the nose during takeoff, helping the main wing instead of adding to its load. Since liftoff is the highest-loaded yet slowest-moving moment in the flight, this does genuinely help wing loading and therefore size and weight, making the airframe overall more efficient.