Breeding for resilience: enhancing multi-stress tolerance in crops

The EU Funding Opportunity titled "Breeding for resilience:enhancing multi-stress tolerance in crops" is part of Horizon Europe, specifically within Cluster 6 Call 01, and is categorized under Research and Innovation Action (RIA). The call is currently open for submissions and features a two-stage application process with deadlines set for September 4, 2025, and February 18, 2026.

Eligible applicants include research institutes, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and agricultural organizations which can collaboratively engage in plant breeding and agroecology. The funding mechanism is a grant, and proposals must demonstrate multi-stakeholder collaboration, ensuring alignment with ongoing Horizon Europe projects and leveraging existing research infrastructures.

The program targets EU member states and associated countries, aiming to address the impacts of climate change on agriculture by promoting biodiversity and low-input agricultural practices, thereby enhancing food security. It encourages research into crop production and agro-ecosystems and aims to improve the resilience of agricultural systems to various stresses such as salinity, extreme weather, pests, and diseases.

The funding range for projects is anticipated to be between €200,000 to €1,000,000 per project, although specific total call budgets are not disclosed. Typically, similar topics within Horizon Europe Cluster 6 can allocate budgets reaching up to €24 million for multiple projects. A maximum of 20% of the EU funding may be directed to third-party support.

The two-stage application process requires an initial outline proposal, leading to a full proposal submission for successful applicants at the second stage. While the success rate for funding is competitive, it is generally estimated between 10% to 39%.

Co-funding is not mandated, although proposals can include financial support for third parties, amounting to a maximum of €60,000 per third party. The focus of the funded projects is on developing crop varieties with enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses while using advanced technologies and practices.

Proposals should align with the European Green Deal and the EU's biodiversity strategy for 2030, emphasizing strategies for sustainable agriculture that maintain ecosystem services and biodiverse cropping systems, as well as integrating innovative techniques like computational models and artificial intelligence to evaluate the effects of various stress factors on crop resilience.

Additionally, there are specific admissibility and evaluation conditions outlined in general annexes, and collaboration with existing Horizon Europe projects and research infrastructures is strongly encouraged to facilitate knowledge sharing and resource optimization.

Overall, the funding initiative seeks to create more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems in response to climate change and promote effective breeding strategies that contribute to the objectives set within the European Union’s environmental and agricultural frameworks.

The EU Funding Opportunity focuses on "Breeding for resilience:enhancing multi-stress tolerance in crops" under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically within Cluster 6 Call 01 - two stage (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-two-stage). It is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Model Grant Agreement. The call is currently open for submission.

The deadline model is two-stage, with the first deadline on 04 September 2025 at 17:00:00 Brussels time and the second deadline on 18 February 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome of successful proposals is to contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal, the common agricultural policy, the EU climate policy, and the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030. This involves supporting the adaptation of agricultural production to climate change effects, increasing biodiversity in agroecosystems, promoting low-input practices, enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems, and safeguarding food security.

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

1. Deeper knowledge and characterization of relevant traits for tolerance and resistance to multiple stresses, whether occurring simultaneously or sequentially, are more accessible to researchers and breeders.

2. Enhanced identification of local varieties with high plasticity to cope with multi-stress conditions, along with the development of agro-ecological practices that improve stress tolerance while supporting biodiversity-friendly cropping systems.

3. Strengthened capacities to evaluate the effects of multiple stresses in crops by researchers and breeders.

4. Availability of information and recommendations on variety performance and practices to cope with multi-stress for advisors and farmers.

The scope of the funding opportunity addresses the challenges faced by crop production due to climate change and the need for low-input practices. These challenges include salinity, extreme weather conditions (droughts, waterlogging, high temperatures), and emerging patterns of pests and diseases, all of which reduce productivity and yield. The focus is on enhancing crop tolerance to combinations of abiotic and biotic stresses to reflect real-life agricultural conditions. Evaluating local crop varieties, identifying those with high plasticity, and developing agro-ecological practices to improve stress tolerance are crucial. Broad-spectrum strategies for improving stress tolerance and smart breeding programs are also emphasized.

Proposals should:

1. Provide insight into the mechanisms and traits that underpin crop responses to multiple stresses, guiding the development of varieties and crop systems better equipped to withstand abiotic and biotic stresses, including reduced agricultural inputs.

2. Increase understanding of the causality between abiotic and biotic stress factors and propose strategies to improve multi-stress tolerance.

3. Integrate advanced technologies to assist in evaluating GxExM (Genotype x Environment x Management) interactions in the context of multi-stress, combining multiple "omics" data sources, high-throughput phenotyping, computational modelling, and artificial intelligence at different levels (greenhouses, experimental fields, production fields). This integration should assist breeders in developing local varieties optimized for sustainability and climate change adaptation.

4. Develop location-specific breeding strategies and agroecological practices, incorporating models and artificial intelligence approaches for prediction of cropping systems output under multiple stress conditions, considering climate change scenarios and climate analogues. These strategies should promote agrobiodiversity, soil health, and ecosystem services.

5. Deliver robust methodologies for benchmarking and communicating the performance of crop varieties when challenged by multiple stresses.

Proposals should clearly explain and justify the selected crops, aligning with the proposal’s objectives and the topic’s expected outcomes, and activities should be carried out in a range of agronomically relevant pedo-climatic conditions. All farming systems and approaches are in scope, with particular attention to organic varieties and organic heterogeneous materials if addressing organic farming.

Financial support to third parties (FSTP) may be provided to develop, test, and demonstrate tools to evaluate GxExM interactions in the context of multi-stress, with a maximum of 20% of the EU funding allocated for this purpose. Consortia need to define the selection process for organizations receiving financial support.

Proposals should ensure coherence and complementarities with ongoing relevant Horizon Europe projects, including the agroecology partnership, and capitalize on existing research findings and tools. Collaboration with European research infrastructures such as AnaEE-ERIC, EMPHASIS, or other relevant research infrastructures is encouraged.

Admissibility Conditions:

Applicants submitting a proposal under the blind evaluation pilot must not disclose their organization names, acronyms, logos, or names of personnel in the proposal abstract and Part B of their first-stage application. Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System and Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligible Countries:

Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other Eligible Conditions:

Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion:

Described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award:

This topic is part of the blind evaluation pilot, and the award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial set-up:

Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of €60 000 to each third party, as described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and the Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1). Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including the Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) and the Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1).

Guidance:

HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA) HE MGA, Call-specific instructions, Information on financial support to third parties (HE).

Additional documents:

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The total budget for the HORIZON-CL6 topic is €14,000,000. The opening date for submissions was 06 May 2025, with deadlines on 04 September 2025 and 18 February 2026. The indicative number of grants is around 2.

There are 16 partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic.

This funding opportunity aims to bolster the resilience of crop production in the face of climate change and the push for sustainable agricultural practices. It seeks to enhance the ability of crops to withstand multiple environmental and biological stresses by supporting research and innovation in breeding strategies, agro-ecological practices, and the use of advanced technologies. The goal is to develop crop varieties and farming systems that are not only more resilient to climate change but also contribute to biodiversity, soil health, and overall ecosystem services, ensuring food security while minimizing environmental impact. The call encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the integration of various research infrastructures to achieve these ambitious objectives.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The call encourages collaboration with European research infrastructures, suggesting that research-oriented entities are particularly relevant.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA). The type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. Beneficiaries may also provide financial support to third parties (FSTP) in the form of grants.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity appears to favor consortia. The text mentions that "Consortia need to define the selection process of organisations, for which financial support may be granted," implying that multiple organizations are expected to collaborate. Partner search announcements are also listed, further suggesting a consortium approach.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The text also mentions that "A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects," directing applicants to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for more information. This suggests that some third countries may also be eligible under specific conditions.

Target Sector:The program targets the agriculture/food sector, specifically focusing on crop production and agroecosystems. It also touches on climate, environment, and biodiversity. The thematic priorities are aligned with the European Green Deal, the common agricultural policy, the EU climate policy, and the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is open to EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some non-EU/non-associated countries under specific provisions.

Project Stage:The expected maturity of the project ranges from research to innovation. The call includes both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), suggesting that projects can be at different stages of development, from fundamental research to demonstration and validation. The emphasis on "smart and future-proof breeding programmes" and "developing location-specific breeding strategies and agroecological practices" indicates a focus on development and validation stages.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic. For the BIODIV topics (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6), the budget is €14,000,000, with an indicative grant amount of around €7,000,000 per project, suggesting that two grants will be awarded. For the CIRCBIO and ZEROPOLLUTION topics (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage), the budget is €10,000,000, with an indicative grant amount of around €5,000,000 per project, suggesting that two grants will be awarded.

Application Type:The application type is an open call with a two-stage submission process. The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline for the first stage is September 4, 2025. The deadline for the second stage is February 18, 2026.

Nature of Support:The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants. Additionally, beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties (FSTP) in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of €60,000 per third party.

Application Stages:The application process consists of two stages. Applicants must first submit a proposal for the first stage by September 4, 2025. If successful, they will be invited to submit a full proposal for the second stage by February 18, 2026.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. However, the indicative number of grants provides some insight. For example, the HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6 topics each have an indicative number of 2 grants, suggesting that only a small percentage of submitted proposals will be funded.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement from the applicant. As a Horizon Europe action grant, it is likely that the funding rate will be up to 100% of the eligible costs for research and innovation actions.

This Horizon Europe call focuses on breeding for resilience in crops to enhance their tolerance to multiple stresses. It aims to support the adaptation of agricultural production to climate change, increase biodiversity in agroecosystems, and promote low-input practices to ensure food security. The call is structured around several key topics, including biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution, each with a dedicated budget and expected outcomes. Projects should contribute to a deeper understanding of traits related to stress tolerance, identify local varieties with high plasticity, strengthen capacities for evaluating multi-stress effects, and provide recommendations to advisors and farmers. Proposals should integrate advanced technologies like omics data, high-throughput phenotyping, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence to evaluate GxExM interactions. The call encourages collaboration with existing Horizon Europe projects and European research infrastructures. The application process is a two-stage process, and consortia are expected to define a selection process for third parties to whom they may provide financial support. This initiative is aligned with the European Green Deal and aims to create more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.