Improving grassland management in European livestock farming systems

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-06, part of the EU Horizon Europe program, focuses on enhancing grassland management in European livestock farming systems. The aim is to promote sustainable practices that improve ecosystem services, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The call aligns with several EU objectives, including the Green Deal, Common Agricultural Policy, Biodiversity Strategy, and Nature Restoration Regulation.

Eligible applicants include a diverse array of stakeholders such as farmers, researchers, SMEs, public authorities, NGOs, and industry representatives, emphasizing a multi-actor approach. The program type is primarily a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), which is grant-based funding.

A consortium is required, involving multi-country collaboration due to the nature of the project. Geographic eligibility extends to EU member states and associated countries, with potential for non-EU participation under specific funding agreements. The expected project stage ranges from research and development to demonstration and implementation, focusing on creating effective methodologies and innovative solutions.

The indicative funding amount for this grant is approximately €16 million, with an expected contribution of about €8 million per project. This is competitive funding, as the indicative number of grants is around two. The application process is a single-stage open call, starting on May 6, 2025, with submissions due by September 16, 2025.

The anticipated outcomes of funded projects include improved data availability for grassland management, increased accessibility to sustainable practices for farmers, enhanced networking among stakeholders, and scientific support for policy implementation. Projects must demonstrate social innovation and engage citizens, ensuring a broad impact on both agricultural sustainability and community wellbeing.

Overall, this grant seeks to foster research and innovation that contribute to the development of resilient and efficient farming systems while preserving biodiversity and supporting rural communities. The call encapsulates a comprehensive approach to sustainable agricultural practices, addressing both environmental and economic aspects of livestock farming.

The EU is offering funding opportunities under the Horizon Europe program, specifically within Cluster 6, Call 02, for projects aimed at improving grassland management in European livestock farming systems. The call, designated as HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-06, seeks to support research and innovation actions (RIA) that contribute to the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Nature Restoration Regulation, climate policy, and the EU action plan for organic production. The overarching goal is to enable farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to adopt sustainable, efficient, profitable, circular, and low-emission farming systems that promote climate neutrality and resilience.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include:

Improved availability of data, models, and methodologies for measuring, monitoring, assessing, and valorizing the multifunctionality of grassland farming systems.

Increased availability, accessibility, and use of sustainable grassland management knowledge, innovative solutions, practices, and strategies for farmers.

Enhanced networking, participatory approaches, and knowledge mobilization among relevant stakeholders.

Provision of scientific support and recommendations for the development, implementation, and evaluation of EU policies relevant to grasslands.

The scope of the call focuses on grazing livestock systems, encompassing both permanent and temporary grasslands. Permanent grasslands are defined according to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, while temporary grasslands are arable lands with grasses or grass mixtures included in crop rotation for less than five years.

Projects are expected to address the following activities:

Develop methodologies for measuring, monitoring, benchmarking, and assessing the performance of grassland farming systems, considering ecosystem services, biodiversity restoration, GHG emission reduction, and social aspects. This includes analyzing synergies and trade-offs between these elements.

Develop new knowledge, innovative solutions, and strategies for creating, maintaining, and restoring productive, cost-effective, sustainable, environmentally sound, and climate-resilient grassland systems.

Develop farm- and landscape-level decision tools and strategies to support sustainable grassland management, improve forage productivity and quality, enhance livestock production, and deliver ecosystem services.

Organize knowledge-sharing and networking activities among relevant actors, creating practice-oriented dissemination materials.

Assess relevant public policies and provide policy recommendations to improve their impact and coherence in supporting sustainable grassland systems.

Perform economic cost-benefit analyses of applying R&I solutions and explore financing or incentive tools for sustainable grassland management.

The multi-actor approach is mandatory, requiring the involvement of farmers, shepherds, advisors, policymakers, landscape planners, industry representatives (including SMEs), social economy actors, consumers, and environmental NGOs.

Proposals should build upon existing research findings and tools, cover a variety of grassland systems across different pedo-climatic conditions and biogeographical regions, and consider marginal areas and areas with intensification trends. Comparison of performance and sustainability between grasslands with mixed plant species (including legumes) and mono-species grasslands is encouraged. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may contribute by connecting projects with spatial datasets on livestock grazing density and grassland management intensity. Eurostat data should also be considered.

Collaboration with other projects funded under this topic is required, including dedicating a task, resources, and a plan for collaboration. The use of Earth Observation data is encouraged where relevant. Complementarities with other Horizon Europe initiatives, such as HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-04 and HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-04, as well as activities of the Horizon Europe Partnership ‘Agroecology’ and other relevant R&I projects, should be ensured.

Social innovation and citizen engagement are essential, with strong involvement of citizens/civil society, academia/research, industry/SMEs/start-ups, and government/public authorities.

The effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines is required, and international cooperation is encouraged.

The call is a single-stage submission process, with the opening date on May 6, 2025, and a deadline of September 16, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The indicative budget for the HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-06 topic is 16,000,000 EUR, with an expected contribution of around 8,000,000 EUR per grant, and an indicative number of 2 grants.

General conditions for participation include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, and other eligibility conditions such as the mandatory multi-actor approach. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is eligible to participate.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annexes D, F, and G of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Applicants should use the standard application form (HE RIA, IA) available in the Submission System and adapt the standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) as necessary. Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide and Model Grant Agreements (MGA), specifically the HE MGA.

Additional documents include the 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, the 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, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to foster research and innovation in grassland management within European livestock farming systems. It seeks to promote sustainable agricultural practices, enhance ecosystem services, and support the EU's broader environmental and climate objectives. The call encourages collaborative, multi-actor projects that involve a wide range of stakeholders, from farmers and researchers to policymakers and industry representatives, to develop and implement innovative solutions for the sustainable management of grasslands.

There are a total of 26 topics in this call. The opening date is May 6, 2025 and the deadline is September 16, 2025.

The topics are:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 19 500 000 EUR and an indicative number of 3 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-03 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 10 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-04 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-05 - HORIZON-COFUND HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of 24 000 000 EUR in 2025, 23 000 000 EUR in 2026 and 23 000 000 EUR in 2027 and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 13 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 6 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 6 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-04 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-01 - HORIZON-COFUND HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of 30 000 000 EUR in 2025, 30 000 000 EUR in 2026 and 30 000 000 EUR in 2027 and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-02 - HORIZON-COFUND HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of 40 000 000 EUR in 2025, 40 000 000 EUR in 2026 and 40 000 000 EUR in 2027 and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-04 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 11 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-05 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-06 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 16 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-07 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-08 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 6 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-09 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of 3 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-10 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-11 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-12 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 10 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-13 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of 2 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-14 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 12 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-15 - HORIZON-COFUND HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of 50 000 000 EUR in 2025, 45 000 000 EUR in 2026 and 35 000 000 EUR in 2027 and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-16 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 6 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-17 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of 8 000 000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity include farmers (including farmers managing protected grassland habitats), shepherds and related organisations notably in the ruminants’ sectors, advisors, policy-makers, landscape and territorial planners, industry including small and medium enterprises, social economy actors, consumers, environmental Non-Governmental Organisations, academia/research, industry/SMEs/start-ups and government/public authorities. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding.

Funding Type: The funding type includes HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions, and HORIZON Innovation Actions. These are essentially grant-based funding mechanisms.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium, as evidenced by the need to implement the 'multi-actor approach’ and the encouragement of international cooperation. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility extends to the EU and Associated Countries. 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.

Target Sector: The target sectors are agriculture, climate, environment, food, bioeconomy, natural resources. Specifically, it focuses on improving grassland management in European livestock farming systems, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, biodiversity, and organic production.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the EU and Associated Countries. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that may have specific funding provisions.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity spans from research and development to demonstration and implementation, as it involves developing methodologies, innovative solutions, decision tools, and policy recommendations.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific action. For HORIZON-RIA, the indicative number of grants is 2 with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR, 3 with contributions around 6,500,000 EUR, 2 with contributions around 5,000,000 EUR, 2 with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR, 1 with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR, 2 with contributions around 5,500,000 EUR, 1 with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR, 2 with contributions around 4,000,000 EUR. For HORIZON-COFUND, the indicative number of grants is 1 with contributions around 70,000,000 EUR, 1 with contributions around 90,000,000 EUR, 1 with contributions around 120,000,000 EUR, 1 with contributions around 130,000,000 EUR. For HORIZON-CSA, the indicative number of grants is 1 with contributions around 3,000,000 EUR, 1 with contributions around 2,000,000 EUR.

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

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

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential competitiveness.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required for HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under Cluster 6, focuses on "Improving grassland management in European livestock farming systems." It aims to support projects that contribute to the EU Green Deal, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and other environmental and climate objectives. The call is structured around several topics, each with its specific budget and expected outcomes, ranging from research and innovation actions (RIA) to coordination and support actions (CSA) and co-funded actions (COFUND). Eligible applicants include a wide array of stakeholders, such as farmers, researchers, SMEs, NGOs, and public authorities, emphasizing a multi-actor approach. Projects should focus on developing sustainable grassland management practices, improving data and methodologies for assessing grassland multifunctionality, enhancing knowledge sharing, and providing policy recommendations. The geographic scope includes the EU and Associated Countries, with potential participation from non-EU countries under specific provisions. The funding amounts vary depending on the action type, with a single-stage application process and an electronic submission deadline of September 16, 2025. The call seeks to foster resilient, efficient, and climate-neutral farming systems while preserving biodiversity and supporting the well-being of rural communities.