Environmental impacts from the production of agricultural crops for bio-based industrial systems

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02 focuses on addressing environmental impacts from the production of agricultural crops specifically for bio-based industrial systems. It aims to fund research and innovation projects that assess and improve the sustainability of agricultural practices to minimize pollution, thereby contributing to the EU's zero pollution objectives.

Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and various stakeholders capable of conducting relevant research and innovation activities. The opportunity encourages collaboration, particularly through consortia that may include international partners, especially from countries such as India.

The funding type for this grant is a lump sum grant under the Horizon Europe program, specifically categorized as a Coordination and Support Action. The project scope focuses on the agricultural, bioeconomy, and environmental sectors, emphasizing sustainable practices that lead to pollution reduction.

The grant operates as a single-stage submission process, with a deadline set for September 17, 2025. A key aspect of this opportunity is its encouragement of multi-actor approaches and international cooperation. The expected funding amount is variable but likely falls in a range between €1 million to €5 million for similar projects, with an overall budget of €2 million specifically for this call.

The project stage primarily targets research and innovation, focusing on environmental assessments, data collection, and the analysis of agricultural practices for bio-based production. The application process does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement, though presenting a well-rounded consortium may enhance proposal competitiveness. Success rates for Horizon Europe grants generally range from 10% to 39%, reflecting the competitive nature of these funding opportunities.

Overall, this grant offers a significant opportunity for applicants aiming to develop sustainable solutions in the agricultural sector while advancing knowledge on environmental impacts and best practices in bio-based production systems.

This is a summary of multiple Horizon Europe funding opportunities related to biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution, all under Cluster 6, Call 01, with a single-stage submission process. The opening date for these opportunities is May 6, 2025, and the deadline for submission is September 17, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. These calls aim to support the European Union's industrial carbon management strategy, promote safe and sustainable bio-based solutions, and contribute to zero pollution objectives. The funding is provided through various types of actions, including HORIZON-COFUND, HORIZON-CSA, HORIZON-RIA, and HORIZON-IA, each with its specific focus and budget allocation. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025).

Here's a breakdown of the specific topics and their respective budgets and objectives:

1.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01: HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions
 *  Budget: 20,000,000 EUR in 2025, 20,000,000 EUR in 2026 and 20,000,000 EUR in 2027
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Co-funding actions to support biodiversity-related initiatives.

2.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
 *  Budget: 4,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Coordination and support for biodiversity initiatives.

3.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-03: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 24,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to biodiversity.

4.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-04: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 22,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to biodiversity.

5.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-05: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 18,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 3
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to biodiversity.

6.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-06: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 16,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 3
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to biodiversity.

7.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-07: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 12,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to biodiversity.

8.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-08: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 14,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to biodiversity.

9.  HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-09: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 6,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to biodiversity.

10. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-10: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 11,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to biodiversity.

11. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 10,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

12. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-02: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 8,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

13. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-03: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 8,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

14. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-04: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 10,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

15. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-05: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 12,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

16. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-06: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 8,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

17. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-07: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 18,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

18. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-08: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 11,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

19. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-09: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 10,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

20. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-10: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
 *  Budget: 2,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Coordination and support actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

21. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 11,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

22. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-12: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
 *  Budget: 2,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Coordination and support actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

23. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-13: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 8,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

24. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-14: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 12,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to the circular bioeconomy.

25. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-15: HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions
 *  Budget: 30,000,000 EUR in 2025, 30,000,000 EUR in 2026 and 10,000,000 EUR in 2027
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Co-funding actions to support circular bioeconomy-related initiatives.

26. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 10,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to zero pollution.

27. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
 *  Budget: 2,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Coordination and support actions related to zero pollution.

28. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 8,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to zero pollution.

29. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-04: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 6,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to zero pollution.

30. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 12,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Research and innovation actions related to zero pollution.

31. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-06: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 8,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 1
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to zero pollution.

32. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-07: HORIZON Innovation Actions
 *  Budget: 12,000,000 EUR
 *  Indicative number of grants: 2
 *  Focus: Innovation actions related to zero pollution.

A specific call, HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02, focuses on "Environmental impacts from the production of agricultural crops for bio-based industrial systems." This call, with a budget of 2,000,000 EUR, aims to improve knowledge of environmental impacts from primary biological resources for industrial bio-based systems and provide access to best practices for sustainable crop production. Proposals should identify agricultural crops produced for bio-based products, collect data on their trade and cultivation, analyze their environmental impacts, and assess these impacts quantitatively, considering various environmental categories such as GHG emissions, land use, water use, and biodiversity. Multi-actor approach and international cooperation, especially with Latin America and the Caribbean, are encouraged.

General conditions for all calls include:

*  Admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout.
*  Eligibility criteria for countries, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
*  Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria.
*  Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and indicative timelines.
*  Legal and financial setup of the grants, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum.

Applicants are advised to consult various guidance documents, including the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and FAQs, and to contact National Contact Points (NCPs) and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) for support. Partner search tools are also available to help find collaborators for proposals.

In summary, this Horizon Europe Cluster 6 Call 01 offers a range of funding opportunities for research, innovation, coordination, and support actions related to biodiversity, the circular bioeconomy, and the reduction of pollution in the agricultural and bio-based industrial sectors. The calls encourage a multi-actor approach, international cooperation, and the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. The funding mechanism is primarily through lump sum grants, and detailed guidance is available to assist applicants in preparing and submitting their proposals.

In simpler terms, this is a set of EU grants designed to make agriculture and bio-based industries more sustainable and less polluting. They want projects that study the environmental impact of growing crops for things like bio-plastics and bio-chemicals (but not food or fuel), and that find better ways to do it. They also want to connect researchers and businesses across Europe and beyond to share ideas and best practices. If you're a researcher, farmer, or business working on making agriculture greener, this could be a great opportunity to get funding for your project. The EU is offering money to projects that can show how to grow crops in a way that's good for the environment and helps reduce pollution.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided content. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls, eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, non-profit organizations, and other legal entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The encouragement of multi-actor approach suggests that various stakeholders including farmers, advisors, and economic actors are also considered relevant participants.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily grant-based, specifically HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND). Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity encourages a multi-actor approach, suggesting that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred, although not explicitly required. Partner search tools are available, further indicating the possibility and benefit of forming consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. The call also encourages international cooperation, particularly with Latin America and the Caribbean, and mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding their participants.

Target Sector: The program targets the bioeconomy, agriculture, environment, and related industrial sectors. Specifically, it focuses on bio-based industries, sustainable agriculture, climate, and zero pollution objectives. It aims to improve the environmental sustainability of biological resources production and trades in the bio-based industrial systems.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries as the primary geographic focus. It also encourages international cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets projects across various stages, including research, innovation, and coordination/support actions. This suggests that projects can range from early-stage research to more mature innovation and deployment activities.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action.
HORIZON-COFUND actions have budgets of 10,000,000, 20,000,000 and 30,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CSA actions have budgets of 2,000,000 and 4,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-RIA actions have budgets ranging from 6,000,000 to 24,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-IA actions have budgets ranging from 8,000,000 to 18,000,000 EUR.
The indicative number of grants varies from 1 to 3 depending on the action.

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 lump sum contributions to cover eligible costs.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement, but as a HORIZON Programme, co-funding may be required for some actions.

Summary:
This Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call focuses on "Environmental impacts from the production of agricultural crops for bio-based industrial systems." It aims to support the deployment of safe and sustainable bio-based solutions, contributing to zero pollution objectives. The call encompasses various types of actions, including Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), and Innovation Actions (IA), each with varying funding amounts and scopes. The projects should focus on assessing and improving the environmental sustainability of biological resources production and trades within the bio-based industrial systems, excluding food/feed, biofuels/bioenergy. Proposals should identify agricultural crops, collect data on their production and trade, analyze their environmental impacts, and identify best practices for sustainable production. International cooperation, especially with Latin America and the Caribbean, is encouraged. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, and other stakeholders in the bio-based value chains. The application process involves a single-stage submission, and eligible costs will be covered through lump sum contributions.