Raising citizen awareness on alternative proteins derived from biotechnology

This funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically under Cluster 6, which focuses on food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment. The call is identified as HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-13 and aims to enhance public awareness about alternative proteins derived from biotechnology. It is primarily structured as a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action, utilizing a lump sum grant model for funding. The open application period starts on May 6, 2025, with a deadline of September 16, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The goal of this initiative is to empower citizens to make informed choices regarding alternative protein sources, thereby increasing awareness of the sustainability and health effects associated with dietary changes. Projects funded under this call should contribute to several outcomes, including the enhancement of scientific understanding of biotechnology applications in food, improved communication about the impacts of alternative proteins, and the identification of regulatory inconsistencies that may hinder market acceptance.

The specific focus of the proposal includes addressing public understanding and awareness of alternative proteins from biotechnology, counteracting misinformation, supporting educational initiatives, and identifying necessary measures to encourage consumer acceptance. Proposed activities may involve establishing a science-based information program, improving scientific knowledge transfer, creating technical materials based on scientific evidence, and utilizing various communication channels to effectively engage a broader audience.

Eligible applicants must adopt a multi-actor approach, involving a consortium composed of diverse stakeholders such as citizens, civil society organizations, authorities, public and private institutions, and value chain actors. While the primary geographic focus is on EU member states and associated countries, participation from non-EU actors is also possible, provided specific funding provisions are met.

The funding amount designated for the specific topic of raising citizen awareness about alternative proteins is set at €2,000,000, with individual project budgets potentially varying based on various factors outlined in the call. The application process consists of a single stage requiring the submission of a full proposal.

Co-funding is generally not explicitly required as the grant covers full costs under the lump sum mechanism. Success rates are not directly mentioned but can be inferred based on the number of indicative grants available and the overall competitiveness of the Horizon Europe funding landscape.

Overall, this grant opportunity aims to foster collaboration among various stakeholders, enhance public understanding of alternative proteins, and bridge the gap between scientific advancements and community knowledge to support a more sustainable food system.

This is a description of a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically within Cluster 6, focusing on food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment. The call, designated as HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-13, aims to raise citizen awareness on alternative proteins derived from biotechnology. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a single-stage submission process. The opening date for submission is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is September 16, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant.

The expected outcome of the project is to empower citizens to make informed decisions about alternative protein sources from biotechnology, increase awareness of the sustainability and health impacts of dietary shifts, strengthen education and communication about alternative proteins, and foster public understanding and acceptance of biotechnologies in the food sector.

Project results should contribute to:
Improved scientific knowledge on biotechnology applications in food.
Enhanced communication and understanding of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of alternative protein sources.
Increased citizen awareness of alternative protein characteristics, including precision fermentation.
Identification of policy inconsistencies or regulatory issues hindering market uptake of alternative proteins.

The scope of the proposal includes:
Helping public understanding and awareness of alternative proteins produced through biotechnology.
Counteracting misinformation in this area.
Supporting educational interventions and information dissemination.
Addressing market opportunities for new food products based on alternative proteins.
Identifying necessary accompanying measures (hygienic conditions, dissemination campaigns) to encourage consumer acceptance.

The proposal should address the following activities:
Establish a collaborative science-based information program.
Improve the transfer of scientific knowledge at different levels.
Produce technical and dissemination material based on scientific evidence.
Provide recommendations for updating educational curricula.
Utilize diverse communication media to disseminate information.

The proposal should consider the preliminary results of the B-Trust project and connect to European research infrastructures like EU-IBISBA. Particular emphasis should be placed on ensuring data is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable). The effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines is required. The 'multi-actor approach' must be implemented, involving citizens, civil society organizations, authorities, public and private institutes, and value chain actors. Collaboration with international partners, particularly those in the United States, is encouraged.

General conditions for admissibility include:
Proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.
Eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Application of the multi-actor approach.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission and evaluation processes as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial setup of grants, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information:
Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE CSA).
Evaluation form templates, including the Standard evaluation form (HE CSA), will be used with necessary adaptations.
Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.
Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the Lump Sum MGA.
Call-specific instructions include a detailed budget table (HE LS) and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include:
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
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
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview lists various topics under the call, including climate-related and farm-to-fork initiatives, with their respective budgets for 2025 and indicative number of grants. The opening date for all listed topics is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is September 16, 2025.

Partner search announcements are available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests.

This funding opportunity is designed to promote informed decision-making among citizens regarding alternative protein sources derived from biotechnology. It aims to bridge the gap between scientific advancements and public understanding, ensuring that dietary shifts are based on accurate information and contribute to a more sustainable and healthier food system. The call encourages projects that not only disseminate knowledge but also actively engage with citizens, address misinformation, and provide recommendations for educational improvements. By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and encouraging international partnerships, the initiative seeks to maximize the impact of research and innovation in the food sector.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity requires a multi-actor approach, implying that eligible applicants should include a consortium of various stakeholders. These stakeholders should encompass citizens, civil society organisations, authorities, and public and private institutes/institutions, and value chain actors. This suggests that eligible applicant types could include research institutes, universities, NGOs, governmental bodies, and private sector companies, including SMEs and large enterprises, and citizen groups.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] mechanism. Additionally, there are HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND)

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity explicitly requires the implementation of a multi-actor approach, indicating that a consortium of multiple applicants is necessary. The consortium must involve a diverse range of stakeholders, including citizens, civil society organizations, authorities, public and private institutes/institutions, and value chain actors.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU member states and associated countries, as indicated by the Horizon Europe program framework. However, the inclusion of non-EU/non-Associated Countries participants is possible if specific provisions for funding are made available, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Collaboration with international partners, particularly those in the United States, is encouraged.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: food, bioeconomy, agriculture, biotechnology, education, communication, and public awareness. Specifically, it focuses on alternative protein sources derived from biotechnology, aiming to improve public understanding and acceptance of these innovations within the food sector.

Mentioned Countries: United States, EU member states, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on raising awareness, improving communication, and promoting the understanding and acceptance of alternative proteins derived from biotechnology. This suggests a focus on dissemination, education, and knowledge transfer, rather than early-stage research or development. The project is expected to build upon existing research (such as the B-Trust project) and connect to existing research infrastructures.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €2,000,000 to €50,000,000. For the specific topic "Raising citizen awareness on alternative proteins derived from biotechnology" (HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-13), the budget is €2,000,000. Other topics have different budget allocations as shown in the Budget overview.

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 a lump sum grant to support their coordination and support actions.

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

Success Rates: The success rates can be inferred from the "Indicative number of grants" provided for each topic. For example, a topic with a budget of €12,000,000 and an "Indicative number of grants" of 2 suggests that the average grant size will be around €6,000,000. However, the actual success rate would depend on the number of proposals received, which is not provided in the text.

Co-funding Requirement: The HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND) require co-funding. Other actions may not require co-funding, but this is not explicitly stated.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call (HORIZON-CL6-2025-02) aims to fund projects that address critical challenges in food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and the environment. The call includes a specific topic (HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-13) focused on "Raising citizen awareness on alternative proteins derived from biotechnology." This topic seeks to empower citizens by improving their understanding and acceptance of alternative protein sources through education, communication, and knowledge transfer.

Projects funded under this call are expected to contribute to several key outcomes, including improved scientific knowledge, enhanced communication on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of alternative proteins, increased citizen awareness, and the identification of policy inconsistencies that hinder market uptake.

The scope of the projects should include establishing science-based information programs, improving knowledge transfer across different levels and groups, producing technical and dissemination materials, providing recommendations for educational curricula, and utilizing diverse communication media to engage with a broad audience.

The call emphasizes the importance of the 'multi-actor approach,' requiring the involvement of a diverse range of stakeholders, including citizens, civil society organizations, authorities, and public and private institutions. Collaboration with international partners, particularly those in the United States, is encouraged to maximize the impact of research and innovation.

The funding mechanism is primarily through lump sum grants, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. While the geographic focus is on EU member states and associated countries, participation from non-EU/non-Associated Countries is possible under certain conditions.

In essence, this call seeks to fund collaborative projects that can effectively communicate the benefits and address the concerns surrounding alternative proteins derived from biotechnology, ultimately fostering a more informed and accepting public.