Joint demonstration of solutions to build soil resilience to extreme weather events and support food security

Horizon Europe Innovation Action HORIZON-MISS-2026-06 funds joint demonstrations to build soil resilience to extreme weather and support food security, with a total indicative budget of €20 million and an expected EU contribution of around €10 million per project (indicative two grants). Applications open 4 February 2026 and close 23 September 2026 (single-stage) and must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals must demonstrate solutions at TRL 6-8 by project end, implement demonstration activities in at least three different regional or local authorities across three different EU Member States or Associated Countries, and apply a mandatory multi-actor, transdisciplinary approach with links to the Adaptation Mission, EU Soil Observatory and SoilWise. Projects should include replication frameworks, methodologies to assess extreme-weather impacts on soil ecosystem services, provisions for open and interoperable outputs, and budget for participation in Mission coordination and communities of practice.

Joint demonstration of solutions to build soil resilience to extreme weather events and support food security

Who can apply

Eligibility highlights

Consortia of legal entities from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Projects should assemble multi-actor teams (research, public authorities, land managers, stakeholders) and include partners able to engage regional and local authorities and manage replication activities. Demonstration activities must be located in territories of at least 3 different regional or local authorities, each in a different Member State or Associated Country; proposals should already identify at least 3 additional replicating authorities.

What it funds:Horizon Europe Innovation Actions to develop, test and demonstrate practical solutions (including agroecology and nature-based solutions), an integrated transdisciplinary framework for replication and scale-up, and a methodology to assess impacts of extreme weather on soil ecosystem services. Projects are expected to reach TRL 6-8 by project end and strengthen links with Mission Adaptation, the EU Soil Observatory and SoilWise.

1. 1Demonstration in at least 3 regional/local authorities in 3 different Member States or Associated Countries
2. 2Identification of at least 3 replicating authorities in 3 different Member States or Associated Countries
3. 3Apply the multi-actor approach and involve public authorities and local stakeholders throughout
4. 4Allocate resources to engage with Mission Adaptation Implementation Platform, Mission Community of Practice, EU Soil Observatory and SoilWise
5. 5Demonstrate routes for open access, longevity and interoperability of knowledge and outputs

Expected outcomes include improved subnational soil monitoring, adoption of tailored soil management practices that enhance soil health and food system resilience, and tools/methods to assess impacts of extreme weather on soil services and water retention — thereby supporting food security ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life (FAO, 1996).

Joint demonstration of solutions to build soil resilience to extreme weather events and support food security

Opportunity Type: Horizon Europe call for proposals under the Joint Call between the Soil Deal for Europe Mission and the Adaptation to Climate Change Mission (HORIZON-MISS-2026-06). Type of Action: HORIZON-IA Innovation Actions. Model Grant Agreement: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). Opening date: 04 February 2026. Deadline: 23 September 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. Submission is single-stage via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page ¹.

Opportunity Overview and Objectives

This Innovation Action funds large-scale, multi-actor demonstrations and scaling of practical solutions that enhance soils’ resilience to extreme weather events (e.g., droughts, heavy rainfall and flooding, heatwaves, unseasonal frosts), with a clear link to maintaining soil health and strengthening food system resilience and food security. Activities must adopt systems-thinking across farm, landscape, and governance levels and are expected to reach TRL 6-8 by the end of the project; activities may start at any TRL. The action explicitly supports key EU policies including the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and implementation of the EU Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, the EU Adaptation Strategy, the EU Water Resilience Strategy, and the forthcoming European Climate Adaptation Plan.

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced monitoring of soils at subnational level (regions, municipalities) leading to improved soil resilience against floods, droughts, heatwaves and temperature fluctuations.
• Adoption of tailored soil management practices and solutions (including agroecology and nature-based solutions) that improve soil health, promote sustainable land management, enhance food system resilience (including food security), and strengthen agricultural systems’ resilience to current and future climate extreme events.

Scope and Required Activities

• Develop, test and demonstrate a range of solutions, including agroecology and nature-based solutions, to improve soils’ resilience to extreme weather events, applying systems-thinking across farm, landscape and governance levels. Clearly describe how solutions support food security (e.g., preserving soil productivity, reducing yield volatility, ensuring a more stable, affordable, safe and nutritious food supply).
• Develop and deploy an integrated, transdisciplinary framework to facilitate replication and scale-up, ensuring enhanced involvement of public authorities and stakeholders at multiple management levels, including integration of local knowledge. Explore innovative and scalable business models that sustain food system resilience and food security in the long term.
• Develop a replicable methodology to assess impacts of extreme weather on soil ecosystem services (including water retention and quality) across different regions; design the framework for uptake by local authorities, stakeholders and land managers.
• Disseminate good practices to key stakeholders and practitioners to support informed decision-making and adaptive land management.

Demonstration Sites and Replication:Demonstration activities must take place in the territory of at least three different regional or local authorities, each in a different EU Member State or Associated Country. Proposals should identify at least three additional replicating regional or local authorities from three different Member States or Associated Countries that intend to reapply lessons learned. Replicating authorities are not expected to conduct on-the-ground activities during the project but should prepare the theoretical replication framework and explore funding for future implementation.

Mandatory Links to Missions and Knowledge Bases:Projects must include mechanisms and resources to establish operational links and collaboration with the Adaptation Mission’s Implementation Platform (including on monitoring) and will participate in the Adaptation Mission Community of Practice. Proposals should build, when relevant, on existing and emerging knowledge and solutions from prior EU and national projects (e.g., Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe Cluster 5 and Mission Adaptation, LIFE), and demonstrate a route towards open access, longevity, sustainability and interoperability of knowledge and outputs through close collaboration with the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the SoilWise project EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) SoilWise project on CORDIS.

Multi-actor Approach:Proposals must apply the multi-actor approach throughout the project lifecycle, involving a diverse range of stakeholders to promote co-creation, ensure relevance and reliability, and facilitate acceptance and adoption of innovative solutions.

Eligibility and Participation

Eligible Applicant Types

All legal entities eligible under Horizon Europe in EU Member States and Associated Countries may apply. Typical eligible participants include universities, research institutes, SMEs, startups, large enterprises and industry actors in agri-food and environmental technologies, nonprofit organizations and NGOs, regional and local authorities, public bodies, farmer organizations and cooperatives, living labs and demonstration farms, innovation intermediaries and extension services, and public-private partnerships. Participation from additional countries may be possible under Horizon Europe rules; automatic funding eligibility for some non-EU/non-Associated countries is restricted unless specific national arrangements exist (see Annex B of the General Annexes). Demonstration site hosts must be regional or local authorities in at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Funding Type

Grant funding under Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA). Standard Horizon Europe IA funding rates apply: up to 70% of eligible costs for for-profit entities and up to 100% for non-profit entities, plus a 25% flat-rate for indirect costs, as per the Model Grant Agreement and General Annexes.

Consortium Requirement

Consortium. Horizon Europe minimum participation rules apply for Innovation Actions: at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country. In addition, the topic requires demonstration activities in at least three different regional or local authorities located in three different EU Member States or Associated Countries, and identification of at least three further replicating authorities in three different EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

EU Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe are eligible for funding as per Annex B of the General Annexes. Some non-EU/non-Associated countries may participate with their own funding arrangements. All mandatory demonstration sites and the identified replicating authorities must be located in EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Target Sector

• Agriculture and food systems; soil health; land and water management
• Climate adaptation and resilience; environment; nature-based solutions
• Water resilience and soil-water nexus; drought and flood risk management
• Agroecology; sustainable farming; landscape-level governance
• Monitoring, data, and decision-support for soil ecosystem services and food security

Mentioned Countries or Regions

No specific countries are named. Geographic references are EU Member States and Associated Countries. Demonstrations and replication must involve authorities in three different EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Project Stage and Technology Readiness

Activities may start at any TRL, but projects are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project. The emphasis is on development, validation, demonstration, and early deployment/scale-up of solutions and frameworks for replication.

Funding Amount and Budget

• Total indicative budget for the topic: €20,000,000.
• Expected EU contribution per project: around €10,000,000.
• Indicative number of grants: 2.

Application Type and Stages

• Application Type: Open call via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; single-stage submission.
• Evaluation: Award criteria, scoring, thresholds and processes as per the Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex D and Annex F).

Nature of Support

Financial support in the form of EU grants (money). Non-financial elements are embedded through required collaboration with Mission Implementation Platforms, Communities of Practice, and knowledge-sharing structures.

Number of Application Stages

1 stage (single-stage submission and evaluation).

Success Rates

Not specified for this topic. Success rates depend on the volume and quality of submissions in the call and will follow Horizon Europe competitive evaluation procedures.

Co-funding Requirement

Co-funding may be required depending on the legal status of beneficiaries due to standard Horizon Europe Innovation Action reimbursement rates: up to 70% of eligible costs for for-profit entities, up to 100% for non-profit entities, plus a 25% flat indirect cost rate. Additional co-funding is encouraged for replication and scale-up beyond the grant, including leveraging regional, national, private or other EU instruments.

Detailed Technical and Implementation Requirements

Key Technical Themes and Risks Addressed

• Soil degradation pressures under extremes: erosion, nutrient leaching, salinisation, loss of soil organic carbon, reduced microbial activity, waterlogging, oxygen depletion.
• Soil ecosystem services under climate stress: water retention and quality, productivity, carbon cycling, biodiversity, and support to stable yields and food security.
• Systems-thinking at farm and landscape scales including governance and institutional contexts and enabling conditions for scaling.
• Agroecology and nature-based solutions for resilience: cover crops, diversified rotations, reduced tillage, soil organic matter enhancement, agroforestry and shelterbelts, contouring and terraces, wetland and riparian buffers, floodplain reconnection, re-wetting and managed aquifer recharge, field-scale water harvesting, green infrastructure for drainage and infiltration.
• Monitoring frameworks at subnational level: indicators and methods aligned with EU Soil Strategy and the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive; integration with local authority needs.
• Replication frameworks and business models: investment cases, blended finance options, cost-effectiveness, barriers and enablers for uptake by regions and land managers.

Stakeholder and Governance Requirements

• Mandatory multi-actor approach involving farmers and land managers, regional and local authorities, water managers, agri-food value-chain actors, civil society, extension services, NGOs, research and technology providers.
• Integration of local and traditional knowledge; co-creation and co-design of solutions and replication plans.
• Operational links to the Adaptation Mission Implementation Platform and participation in the Adaptation Mission Community of Practice.
• Close collaboration with the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) for open, interoperable data and long-term knowledge stewardship, and with the SoilWise repository to ensure FAIR data and sustained accessibility.

Dissemination, Data, and Interoperability

• Proactive dissemination of good practices to decision-makers and practitioners in multiple languages where appropriate.
• Commitment to open access, longevity, sustainability and interoperability of outputs; alignment with EUSO dashboards, indicators, and data standards.
• Clear monitoring and evaluation plans for soil health and resilience outcomes, including subnational monitoring enhancements and linkages to Mission monitoring frameworks.

Operational Facts

Application, Evaluation, and Templates

Submission Method and Documents

• Submit electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; select HORIZON-IA, HORIZON-AG for this topic EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page.
• General conditions: Admissibility, eligibility (including multi-actor approach), financial/operational capacity, exclusion, award criteria, procedures, and grant set-up per Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annexes A–G).
• Application form templates: Use forms in the Submission System; reference examples are available in the Portal’s Reference Documents.
• Evaluation forms: Standard HE evaluation form (RIA/IA) adapted as needed.
• Guidance: HE Programme Guide, Online Manual, Model Grant Agreements, Annotated Model Grant Agreement, National Contact Points, EEN, IPR Helpdesk.

Application Form Structure (Indicative Outline to Help Applicants)

1. 1Excellence: Problem definition; objectives aligned with expected outcomes; state-of-the-art; concept and methodology; systems-thinking approach across farm, landscape, governance; consideration of extreme events and soil processes; integration of agroecology and nature-based solutions; use of SSH where appropriate; risk of maladaptation and how it is avoided.
2. 2Impact: Credible pathway to TRL 6-8; quantified contributions to soil resilience, soil health indicators, water retention/quality, yield stability and food security; scale-up and replication strategy (framework, business models, financing options); alignment with EU Soil Strategy, Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, EU Adaptation Strategy, Water Resilience Strategy; policy linkages and contribution to the forthcoming European Climate Adaptation Plan; open access and interoperability commitments via EUSO and SoilWise; engagement plan with Mission Adaptation Implementation Platform and Community of Practice.
3. 3Implementation: Work plan and Gantt; demonstration design across at least 3 authorities in 3 different MS/AC; identification of at least 3 replicating authorities in 3 different MS/AC with a clear replication roadmap; governance and decision-making; risk management; data management plan (FAIR); ethics and security; monitoring and evaluation strategy for subnational soil monitoring; KPI framework.
4. 4Consortium and Multi-actor Approach: Roles of all actors (authorities, farmers, advisors, NGOs, RTOs, firms); stakeholder mapping; co-creation and knowledge integration mechanisms; capacity building; citizen and practitioner engagement; gender and diversity considerations.
5. 5Resources and Budget: Justification of resources; cost-effectiveness; demonstration site budgets; replication support; dissemination and exploitation; management of IPR; sustainability of outputs; plans for follow-on finance and deployment.
6. 6Ethics and Security: Ethics self-assessment; data protection; environmental and societal safeguards.

Evaluation and Timeline

• Single-stage evaluation against Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation per Annex D.
• Indicative timelines for evaluation and grant agreement follow Annex F of the General Annexes.
• Projects must budget for coordination with the Missions (Implementation Platform; Community of Practice) and for replication support to the identified authorities.

What This Opportunity Is About

This call funds large-scale, transdisciplinary Innovation Actions to jointly demonstrate and scale soil resilience solutions that directly shield European agriculture and food systems from increasingly frequent and severe climate extremes. Proposals must combine on-the-ground demonstrations in at least three regional or local authorities across three EU Member States or Associated Countries with robust frameworks for replication and scale-up in at least three more replicating authorities. Solutions should draw on agroecology and nature-based approaches, improve soil ecosystem services such as water retention and quality, and reduce climate-driven yield volatility to strengthen food security. Projects must embed multi-actor co-creation, coordinate with the Adaptation Mission Implementation Platform and Community of Practice, and ensure their knowledge and data are open, interoperable, and sustainable in partnership with the EU Soil Observatory and the SoilWise project. By targeting TRL 6-8 and aligning with the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, the EU Adaptation Strategy, the EU Water Resilience Strategy, and the forthcoming European Climate Adaptation Plan, this action is designed to deliver operational, replicable, and investment-ready practices, business models, and decision-support tools that enable subnational authorities and land managers to deploy climate-resilient soil management at scale. Full topic details are available in the Missions Work Programme 2026-2027 Horizon Europe Missions Work Programme 2026-2027 (Part 12) ².

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic page: HORIZON-MISS on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page.
2. 2Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 12 Missions (C(2025) 8493 of 11 December 2025) Horizon Europe Missions Work Programme 2026-2027 (Part 12).

Joint Demonstration of Solutions to Build Soil Resilience to Extreme Weather Events and Support Food Security

This Horizon Europe Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) under the joint call HORIZON-MISS-2026-06 between the Soil Deal for Europe Mission and the Adaptation to Climate Change Mission supports the development, testing, and demonstration of practical solutions to enhance soil resilience against extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, heatwaves, and temperature anomalies. The initiative aligns with the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, EU Soil Strategy for 2030, EU Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, EU Adaptation Strategy, EU Water Resilience Strategy, and the forthcoming European Climate Adaptation Plan.

Key Dates and Budget

Opening Date:4 February 2026

Deadline:23 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)

Total Indicative Budget:€20 million

Expected EU Contribution per Project:Around €10 million (indicative number of grants: 2)

Type of Action:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), budget-based

Expected Outcomes

Projects must contribute to all of the following: enhanced subnational soil monitoring (e.g., regions, municipalities) to improve resilience against floods, droughts, heatwaves, and temperature fluctuations; adoption of tailored soil management practices promoting sustainable land management, food system resilience, food security, and agricultural system resilience to climate extremes.

Scope and Mandatory Requirements

Proposals must address all aspects: develop, test, and demonstrate solutions including agroecology and nature-based solutions using a systems-thinking approach across farm, landscape, and governance levels, explicitly linking to food security by preserving soil productivity and reducing yield volatility; deploy a transdisciplinary framework for replication and scale-up involving public authorities, stakeholders, local knowledge, and innovative business models; create a replicable methodology for assessing extreme weather impacts on soil ecosystem services (e.g., water retention, quality) tailored for local authorities and land managers; disseminate good practices for adaptive land management.

Demonstration Sites

• Demonstration activities must occur in at least 3 different regional or local authorities, each in a distinct EU Member State or Associated Country.
• Proposals should identify at least 3 replicating regional or local authorities from 3 different Member States or Associated Countries to prepare frameworks for applying lessons learned, potentially with consortium support for knowledge transfer.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

Activities expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by project end; may start at any TRL. See General Annex B.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

• Legal entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries.
• Must apply multi-actor approach: involve diverse stakeholders (e.g., farmers, land managers, researchers, public authorities, citizens) throughout the project lifecycle for co-creation and adoption.
• Eligible countries detailed in General Annex B; some non-EU/Associated Countries may have funding provisions.
• Proposals must relate to Mission objectives and build on prior projects (e.g., HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-03, HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-01-01).

Key Requirements and Conditions

• Multi-actor approach mandatory.
• Close collaboration with EU Soil Observatory and SoilWise project for open access, longevity, sustainability, and interoperability of outputs.
• Establish operational links with Mission Adaptation Implementation Platform (including monitoring) and participate in Adaptation Mission Community of Practice; budget accordingly.
• Admissibility: Proposal page limits and layout per Annexes A and E.
• Financial/operational capacity and exclusion per Annex C.
• Evaluation: Award criteria, scoring, thresholds per Annex D; single-stage process per Annex F.

Application Process

Submit via EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Use application forms in Submission System. Model Grant Agreement: HORIZON-AG. Detailed conditions in HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 (Missions part) and General Annexes.

Primary Source:Topic Details

Additional documents: HE Work Programme 2026-2027, Programme Guide, Online Manual. Partner search available on portal.

Support and Further Information

• National Contact Points (NCPs) for guidance.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) for SMEs.
• Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, FAQ, IT Helpdesk.
• Research Enquiry Service for Horizon Europe questions.

Footnotes

1. 1Food security defined per FAO 1996: physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food meeting dietary needs and preferences for an active, healthy life.