Broadening the living labs approach for soil health in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)

The European Union funding opportunity HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-02-two-stage aims to enhance soil health through the establishment of participatory living labs in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This initiative falls under the Horizon Europe program, specifically within the Research and Innovation Actions framework. The total budget for this grant is set at 12 million euros, with approximately two grants anticipated to be awarded. The application process is structured as a two-stage submission, with the first deadline on September 4, 2025, and the second on February 18, 2026.

Eligible applicants include research organizations, land managers, start-ups, SMEs, civil society organizations, and interdisciplinary actors, specifically from African Union member states, CELAC member states, EU Member States, and Associated Countries. The proposal must adopt a multi-actor approach, collaborating among various stakeholders.

The call focuses on several thematic areas, including soil health, sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security, and biodiversity. Funded projects should facilitate at least twelve participatory initiatives across five to six different countries within either Africa or LAC. These initiatives should co-design, co-develop, and co-implement localized solutions tailored to regional challenges in soil health.

Key outcomes expected from this funding include minimized soil degradation, enhanced soil health, increased access to practical tools for small land managers, and the establishment of mechanisms to facilitate knowledge exchange related to soil health. Projects should also establish a recognized process for ongoing policy support, enhancing frameworks for implementing knowledge-based solutions.

The initiative emphasizes financial support to third parties for setting up participatory activities related to soil health. Each third party can receive up to 300,000 euros, with a requirement that at least 60% of the total requested EU contribution be allocated for this purpose.

Projects should connect with existing research and approaches funded through other Horizon Europe initiatives, ensuring that they leverage previous learning and foster cross-collaboration. Additionally, data generated through these projects should be accessible, adhering to principles of openness and interoperability, thus contributing to the objectives of the European Union Soil Observatory.

Proposals must clearly indicate whether they are targeting Africa or LAC, and successful applications will be selected based on their ability to meet specific evaluation criteria, including excellence and impact. The funding aims to bridge gaps between scientific knowledge and practical application, fostering community engagement in soil health initiatives and aligning with global sustainable development goals.

The EU Funding Opportunity HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-02-two-stage focuses on broadening the living labs approach for soil health in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a two-stage submission process. The call falls under the mission of supporting the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe. The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, with a first-stage deadline of September 4, 2025, and a second-stage deadline of February 18, 2026. Both deadlines are at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget allocated to this topic is 12,000,000 EUR, and it is expected that around 2 grants will be awarded.

The activities funded under this topic contribute to the eight specific objectives of the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, the EU-Africa Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA), African Union strategies, the ‘Declaration of the EU-CELAC Summit 2023’, the LAC Communication, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The expected outcomes of the projects include: minimized or reversed soil degradation and enhanced soil health in rural, urban, and peri-urban areas of Africa or LAC; increased access to scalable practice-oriented tools and learning mechanisms for soil health among local communities and small land managers in Africa or LAC; establishment of a recognized mechanism for the exchange of soil health knowledge, learning experiences, and tools; and an effective policy framework to support the adoption of knowledge-based solutions for soil health and sustainable land management in Africa or LAC.

The scope of this topic involves supporting human-centred initiatives for research, development, education, extension, and sustainable soil management to accelerate the adoption of context-specific solutions for soil health protection and restoration in Africa and LAC. The projects should build on the principles of living labs, which include co-creation of solutions with stakeholders, real-life settings, and involvement of end-users.

Proposals should support the set-up of at least 12 participatory initiatives in real-life sites in at least 5 to 6 countries in each region (Africa or LAC). These initiatives should co-design, co-develop, and co-implement locally adapted solutions to key soil health challenges. The initiatives should cover diverse environmental, socio-economic, and cultural contexts and integrate knowledge from social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines. They should also monitor and assess the progress on soil health and socio-economic resilience using adequate indicators and establish a baseline.

The projects should support land managers, land users, and advisers in co-implementing the solutions through training, capacity building, and knowledge exchange. They should identify exemplary initiatives that can act as demonstration sites (similar to the Mission Soil lighthouse concept) to disseminate knowledge and accelerate the adoption of solutions. An inclusive exchange mechanism should be developed to enable peer-to-peer learning and a toolbox to support the adaptation and replication of these initiatives. The exchange mechanism should operate as an incubator of new initiatives in at least 5 to 6 countries in each region (Africa or LAC) and be designed for geographical expansion and sustainability.

Proposals should ensure the long-term ambition, continuity, and sustainability of the established mechanism beyond the Horizon Europe funding, including through attracting other funding and identifying possible business models. They should include expertise in human centred design, capacity to operate at the regional level, and a deep understanding of the different environmental, socio-economic, and cultural contexts in Africa or LAC.

Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is a key component, with proposals required to provide financial support to set up participatory initiatives addressing soil health in real-life sites in Africa or LAC. The recipients of the financial support must be the group of actors involved in the participatory activities in each initiative, including research organisations, land-managers, start-ups, SMEs, and civil society organisations.

Proposals should define transparent selection criteria for the FSTP calls, considering the recipients’ ability to advise on innovative research approaches, their expertise in human centred design, their capacity to operate at the regional level, and their understanding of the context and existing soil health needs.

The proposals should include a dedicated task, appropriate resources, and a plan on how they will build on the results of and/or collaborate with related projects funded by philanthropic entities and other relevant actions under Horizon Europe, such as Soils4Africa and projects to be financed under topic ‘HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-19’ or ‘HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-09’.

Proposals should demonstrate a route towards open access, longevity, sustainability, and interoperability of knowledge and outputs through close collaboration with the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the project SoilWise. The data produced should be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), and relevant data, maps, and information should be available publicly through the EUSO.

Eligible countries include all African Union member states and all member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), even if they are not established in a low-middle income country. International organisations with headquarters in an EU Member State, an Associated Country, an African Union member state, or a CELAC member state are also eligible for funding.

Proposals must apply the multi-actor approach.

To ensure that both regions (Africa and LAC) are covered, grants will be awarded to applications not only in order of ranking but at least also to one project focusing on Africa that is the highest ranked, and one project highest ranked within LAC, provided that the applications attain all thresholds. Proposals must clearly indicate the region (Africa or LAC) they are applying to.

The overall threshold for the second stage evaluation will be 12, with a minimum threshold of 4 for the ‘Excellence’ criterion’.

Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 300 000. At least 60% of the total requested EU contribution must be allocated to this purpose.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including standard application forms for HE RIA and HE RIA IA Stage 1. Evaluation form templates will be used with the necessary adaptations, including standard evaluation forms for HE RIA, IA and HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1. Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide and Model Grant Agreements (MGA).

This funding opportunity aims to foster collaborative, human-centered initiatives to improve soil health in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. It seeks to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical application by establishing living labs and participatory initiatives that involve local communities, land managers, and other stakeholders. The goal is to develop and implement context-specific solutions for soil restoration and sustainable land management, contributing to the broader objectives of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The emphasis on financial support to third parties ensures that local actors are empowered to drive change and adopt innovative practices for soil health.

Eligible Applicant Types: Research organisations, land-managers, start-ups, SMEs, civil society organisations, interdisciplinary actors, legal entities established in all African Union member states, legal entities established in all member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), international organisations with headquarters in an EU Member State, an Associated Country, an African Union member state or a CELAC member state.

Funding Type: Grant. Specifically, HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA).

Consortium Requirement: The proposal must apply the multi-actor approach, implying a consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): African Union member states, member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), EU Member States, Associated Countries.

Target Sector: Agriculture/Food, Climate, Environment, Innovation, Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Focus on soil health, sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security, and biodiversity.

Mentioned Countries: African Union member states, member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), EU Member States, Associated Countries.

Project Stage: Research, Development, Demonstration, Implementation. The project aims to support the set-up of participatory initiatives in real-life sites, co-design, co-develop and co-implement locally adapted solutions.

Funding Amount: The budget for HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-01-two-stage is EUR 36,000,000, with an indicative number of 3 grants. The budget for HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-02-two-stage is EUR 12,000,000, with an indicative number of 2 grants. Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties, with a maximum amount of EUR 300,000 per third party. At least 60% of the total requested EU contribution must be allocated to this purpose.

Application Type: Open call, two-stage.

Nature of Support: Money and non-monetary services. Beneficiaries will receive grants, and third parties will receive financial support. The program also involves training, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and demonstration activities.

Application Stages: 2

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants suggests a competitive process.

Co-funding Requirement: Not explicitly mentioned, but the call encourages attracting other funding and identifying possible business models for long-term sustainability.

This opportunity, under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targets the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission by broadening the living labs approach for soil health in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The call aims to minimize or reverse soil degradation and enhance soil health in rural, urban, and peri-urban areas of Africa and LAC. It seeks to increase access to scalable, practice-oriented tools and learning mechanisms for soil health among local communities and small land managers. The program emphasizes the establishment of a recognized mechanism for exchanging soil health knowledge and tools, attracting additional finance for human-centered design and testing of solutions. Policy makers are expected to put in place effective frameworks supporting the adoption of knowledge-based solutions for soil health and sustainable land management.

The scope involves supporting human-centered initiatives for research, development, education, extension, and sustainable soil management. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of context-specific solutions for soil health protection and restoration. Proposals should support the setup of at least 12 participatory initiatives in real-life sites across at least 5 to 6 countries in each region (Africa or LAC). These initiatives should co-design, co-develop, and co-implement locally adapted solutions, integrating knowledge from social sciences and humanities.

The program requires monitoring and assessment of progress on soil health and socio-economic resilience, using adequate indicators and establishing a baseline. It supports land managers and users in co-implementing solutions through training, capacity building, and knowledge exchange. The call also aims to identify exemplary initiatives that can act as demonstration sites, similar to the Mission Soil lighthouse concept. An inclusive exchange mechanism should be developed to enable peer-to-peer learning and support the adaptation and replication of initiatives.

Eligible applicants include research organizations, land managers, start-ups, SMEs, civil society organizations, and other interdisciplinary actors. Legal entities established in African Union member states and CELAC member states are exceptionally eligible. The funding is provided through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), with a budget of EUR 36,000,000 for HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-01-two-stage and EUR 12,000,000 for HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-02-two-stage. Beneficiaries can provide financial support to third parties, up to EUR 300,000 per party, with at least 60% of the EU contribution allocated for this purpose. The application process is a two-stage open call, with deadlines on 04 September 2025 and 18 February 2026.