Diversifying aquaculture production with emphasis on low-trophic species

The EU grant opportunity HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-10 is focused on diversifying aquaculture production, particularly through low-trophic species such as algae and shellfish. This initiative aligns with the EU's Farm to Fork strategy, which emphasizes sustainable practices within the food system.

Eligible applicants include research entities, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises, aquaculture enterprises, and industry stakeholders. This grant falls under the HORIZON Innovation Action framework and is structured as a budget-based grant. A consortium consisting of multiple partners is required for submission, reflecting Horizon Europe’s collaboration emphasis.

The geographic scope of the grant encompasses EU member states and associated countries, fostering participation from a broad range of entities. It targets the aquaculture, agriculture, and bioeconomy sectors, aiming to enhance product diversity and sustainability within aquaculture ecosystems.

The primary funding range for this call is estimated to be between €1 million and €5 million, based on typical amounts for similar Horizon Europe Innovation Actions. The application process is categorized as a single-stage open call, with submissions opening on May 6, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025.

Successful proposals are expected to lead to significant outcomes such as broader consumer access to diverse edible aquatic species, improved competitiveness and profitability for the aquaculture industry, reduced environmental impact, and increased climate resilience. The call encourages projects that incorporate circular economy practices and consider sustainability aspects, including feeding strategies, health and welfare standards, and economic factors related to aquaculture.

Co-funding is required for participation, aligning with Horizon Europe’s funding structure. The typical success rate for grants under Horizon Europe is estimated to be between 10% and 39%, reflecting the competitive nature of these opportunities.

Overall, the grant is designed to boost sustainable aquaculture practices in the EU by promoting innovation in production methods, addressing environmental challenges, and enhancing consumer literacy regarding the nutritional benefits of aquatic foods. Collaborative projects that leverage insights from previous research initiatives are particularly encouraged, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and international cooperation.

This EU grant opportunity focuses on diversifying aquaculture production with an emphasis on low-trophic species, aligning with the EU's Farm to Fork strategy, strategic guidelines for sustainable aquaculture (2021-2030), the EU algae initiative, and the Food 2030 R&I policy framework. The call, HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-10, is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] model grant agreement. The submission process is single-stage, opening on May 6, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of successful proposals include: increased consumer access to diverse edible aquatic species produced in the EU and associated countries; enhanced competitiveness and profitability of the aquaculture industry through new technologies; reduced environmental impact, increased resilience, climate adaptiveness, and contribution to climate change mitigation within the sector; improved consumer literacy regarding the nutritional and environmental benefits of aquatic ecosystem-derived foods; and economic growth and job creation in coastal and rural areas.

The scope of the opportunity encompasses all edible aquatic organisms, with a preference for low-trophic species (photosynthetic, herbivorous, or un-fed). It also favors fish farming practices that utilize feed ingredients low in fish meal and oil, sourced locally or from neighboring regions, and derived from circular economy practices like waste or by-products.

Projects should address sustainability aspects, including circularity and zero waste, aiming for good environmental status through a life cycle approach, potentially using Environmental Footprint methods as per Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279. Fair pricing and regional specificities are also important considerations. Research areas may include feeding, breeding, health, welfare, economics, and consumer acceptance. Regulatory and legal barriers related to novel feed ingredients or new aquaculture farm licensing should be examined. Collaboration with European research infrastructures like EMBRC ERIC and accredited laboratories is encouraged.

Proposals should consider previous work from projects like DIVERSIFY FP7, Horizon 2020 AquaVitae and ASTRAL, and relevant Horizon Europe and national/regional projects such as IMPRESS, NOVAFOODIES, INNOAQUA, ULTFARMS, OLAMUR, AlgaePro BANOS, LOCALITY, VeriFish, Mr.Goodfish3.0, and EUAqua.Org.

The call emphasizes the involvement of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and encourages international cooperation for mutual benefits.

Admissibility conditions require adherence to proposal page limits and layout guidelines as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are listed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific funding provisions for certain non-EU/non-Associated Countries detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligibility conditions are also described in Annex B, while financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are in Annex C.

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F and the Online Manual, with the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement also in Annex F. The legal and financial setup of grants is outlined in Annex G.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation form templates. Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide, and the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is the HE MGA. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025 sections 1, 9, and 14, the 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, the EU Grants AGA, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Statement.

The budget overview lists several topics under the same call, each with its specific budget and indicative number of grants. The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is September 16, 2025.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants with active public profiles.

This opportunity aims to boost sustainable aquaculture in the EU by funding projects that diversify production towards low-trophic species like algae and shellfish. It seeks to improve technologies, reduce environmental impact, and increase consumer awareness, ultimately driving economic growth in coastal and rural areas. The call encourages collaborative, interdisciplinary projects that address various aspects of aquaculture, from feeding and breeding to regulatory barriers and consumer acceptance.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe and the types of actions (RIA, IA, CSA, COFUND), eligible applicants could include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, governmental organizations, and other legal entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The text mentions "LEARs, Account Administrators or self-registrants", which suggests that registered organizations are eligible.

Funding Type: The funding types include grants and co-funding. Specifically, the types of actions mentioned are: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND). These are all grant-based mechanisms, with COFUND actions involving co-funding from other sources.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required. However, the encouragement of international cooperation and the mention of partner searches suggest that consortia are welcome and potentially advantageous. The presence of COFUND actions also implies that multiple parties may be involved to provide co-funding.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The text also mentions "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" and "third-country participation," indicating that entities from these countries may be eligible under specific provisions outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The primary target sectors are food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment, with a specific focus on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. The call emphasizes diversification of aquaculture production, particularly with low-trophic species like algae and shellfish. It also touches on climate change mitigation, circularity, and zero waste in the aquaculture sector.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to "EU and in Horizon Europe Associated Countries" and "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" or "third countries". Therefore, the regions mentioned are EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stages targeted by this opportunity appear to span from research and innovation (RIA) to innovation actions (IA), suggesting a range from development to demonstration and potentially commercialization. The emphasis on "Innovation Actions" indicates a preference for projects that are closer to market or have a clear path to implementation.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. The budget overview provides specific figures for each topic, ranging from €2,000,000 to €50,000,000 for the year 2025. The indicative number of grants for each topic is also provided, allowing for an estimation of the average grant size. For example, HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-10 has a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of grants of 2, suggesting an average grant size of 6,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. However, the "Indicative number of grants" provided for each topic, combined with the general competitiveness of Horizon Europe calls, suggests that the success rates are likely to be in the lower range (below 10% to 39%).

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required for "HORIZON-COFUND" actions, as indicated by the name "HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions". The specific co-funding rates or amounts are not detailed in the provided text.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of Cluster 6 and specifically the FARM2FORK strategy, aims to boost sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, particularly by diversifying aquaculture production with low-trophic species. The call is structured around several topics, each with its own budget and expected outcomes, covering areas like climate action, community development, and farm-to-fork initiatives. The funding mechanisms include Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND). The geographic scope is primarily the EU and associated countries, with possibilities for third-country participation. The call targets a wide range of applicants, from research organizations to businesses, and encourages international cooperation. The application process is a single-stage submission, and the funding amounts vary significantly depending on the topic and action type, ranging from smaller coordination actions to large co-funded programs. The call seeks to address the stagnation of aquaculture in the EU by promoting new technologies, reducing environmental impact, and increasing consumer awareness of the benefits of aquatic food sources.