SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products

HORIZON-JU is a Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking flagship Innovation Action opened 23 April 2026 with a single-stage submission deadline of 22 September 2026 17:00 CET and an indicative topic envelope of around €20 million. The call funds industrial-scale demonstration and market deployment of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) bio-based fertilisers, bio-stimulants and/or crop protection products, requiring TRL 8 industrial production demonstrations and TRL 6+ validation of formulated end-products with field demos across diverse climates and farming systems. Proposals must apply the SSbD framework, perform sanitary and environmental risk and regulatory gap assessments, avoid microplastic accumulation for controlled-release formulations, and adopt a multi-actor approach including primary producers. Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal in accordance with Horizon Europe eligibility and application rules.

Call at a glance

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026 — IA Flagship

What it funds:industrial demonstration and market-scale deployment of safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) bio-based fertilisers, bio-stimulants and/or crop protection solutions (including bioherbicides, biopesticides, bioinsecticides). Projects must demonstrate industrial production at TRL 8 and validate end-product formulations and field performance at TRL 6 or above, covering different crops, climates and farming systems while avoiding microplastic accumulation and ensuring nutrient consistency for fertilisers.

Who can apply:Consortia under Horizon Europe rules: industry (including bio-based industries and SMEs), primary producers/farmers, research organisations, technology providers and other relevant stakeholders from eligible Horizon countries; multi-actor involvement across the value chain is required.

1. 1Deadline: 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
2. 2Type of action: HORIZON JU Innovation Action (IA) — flagship (single-stage)
3. 3Indicative topic budget: around €20,000,000 for this IA-flagship (call-level budget €170,760,699 across topics)
4. 4TRL targets: demonstrate TRL 8 industrial production; validate TRL 6+ formulations and field demos
5. 5Mandatory tasks: SSbD assessment application, sanitary and environmental risk assessment, regulatory gap analysis, multi-actor approach and demonstration on farms

Expected impacts:full-scale biorefinery/value chain for bio-based fertilisers/crop protection, increased availability of cost-competitive SSbD alternatives, reduced reliance on synthetic/mineral agrochemicals, improved soil and water quality and greater EU strategic autonomy. Proposals must show complementarity with past/ongoing EU projects and address regulatory compliance and safety.

How to apply:submit a proposal through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the HORIZON JU Innovation Actions submission route and the application templates in the Submission System. See topic text and call documents for admissibility, eligibility and evaluation rules Topic page.

Further reference:call-specific requirements and detailed conditions are in the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 and call documents available at CBE JU reference documents.

Opportunity summary and strategic context

Type of opportunity:Call for proposals under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) within Horizon Europe. Topic identifier: HORIZON-JU. Type of action: HORIZON JU Innovation Actions (IA) Flagship. Opening date: 23 April 2026. Deadline: 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Submission model: single-stage. Budget indication for this IA-flagship topic: around €20,000,000 (call-level aggregated budgets across topics shown as €170,760,699 for the CBE JU package) ¹.

Expected outcomes and high-level scope

Expected strategic outcomes:Proposals should contribute to: the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy; Farm to Fork Strategy; Horizon Europe Mission A Soil Deal for Europe (notably Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration); the European Chemical Industry Action Plan; and the Clean Industrial Deal. Project-level expected results include establishing full industrial-scale biorefineries and related value chains for sustainable SSbD bio-based fertilisers and/or crop protection solutions, increasing availability of cost-competitive SSbD bio-based alternatives with agronomic efficacy, reducing reliance on synthetic/mineral agricultural chemicals, strengthening EU strategic autonomy and competitiveness via industry-farmer cooperation, and improving soil health and water quality including minimising microplastics and pollutants.

Technical and operational scope:The topic targets SSbD (Safe and Sustainable by Design) bio-based fertilisers, bio-stimulants, bio-fertilisers, and crop protection solutions (bioherbicides, biopesticides, bioinsecticides) or combined solutions. Proposals must demonstrate industrial production at TRL 8 and validate formulations and agronomic performance at TRL 6 or above. Field demonstration on demo farms is required across different climatic and soil conditions and farming systems (including organic). For bio-based fertilisers proposals must implement production validation to ensure reduced N/P/K variability. Innovations with controlled release must avoid microplastic accumulation in soil. Projects must perform sanitary and environmental risk assessments, address regulatory compliance and gaps, apply the EU SSbD framework, and ensure complementarities with past and ongoing Horizon/BBI/CBE projects.

Technical readiness and validation requirements:Mandatory TRL targets: Demonstrate efficient industrial production at TRL 8. Validate the production and formulation of end-products and test agronomic efficiency, safety and sustainability at TRL 6 or above. Field testing on primary producers (demo farms) is required to evidence performance across climatic/soil/farming-system variability.

Detailed eligibility, application and administrative conditions

Admissibility and documentation:Proposal page limits, layout and Part B information are in the Application Form within the Submission System and in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Applicants must use the Submission System application form; application form templates and evaluation templates are provided in the Portal. Call-specific and legal documents to consult include the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Model Grant Agreement (MGA) and other reference documents listed on the CBE JU and Funding & Tenders Portal pages.

1. 1Eligible countries and participants: Eligibility rules are those of Horizon Europe and described in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. This includes EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries; some non-associated third countries may have specific provisions. Check Annex B and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for the definitive list and any national funding arrangements.
2. 2Consortium and minimum participation requirements: This topic is an Innovation Action Flagship under Horizon JU. Eligibility rules for types of action under Horizon typically require multiple independent legal entities from different eligible countries for collaborative actions. The topic text refers to multi-actor approach requirements. Applicants must consult Annex B and Part A of the Application Form in the Submission System for the exact minimum participation for IAs and IA-flagship projects.
3. 3Admissibility and submission: Single-stage electronic submission only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System. Select the HORIZON-JU-IA action and confirm the MGA type HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] when starting submission. Deadlines are fixed and late submissions are not admissible.

Eligible applicant types (detailed)

Eligible applicant types:The call follows Horizon Europe rules and therefore typically accepts the following legal entities from eligible countries: universities and higher education institutions; public research organisations; research institutes; small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); startups and scaleups; large enterprises; industry and industry consortia (including bio-based industry actors and biorefinery operators); non-governmental organisations (NGOs); farmer organisations and cooperatives; demonstration and testing facilities; technology transfer offices; consultants and service providers; public bodies and local/regional authorities; and other legal entities able to sign grant agreements. Individual natural persons are not standard beneficiaries under collaborative Horizon IAs. The topic additionally requires active involvement of primary producers (farmers) and other key actors in the value chain as part of the Multi-Actor Approach (MAA).

Funding type and financial mechanism:Primary funding mechanism: Grant funding (Horizon Europe action grants administered by the CBE JU). The topic is an Innovation Action Flagship (IA-flagship) with HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based MGA.

Consortium requirement and multi-actor approach

Consortium:The topic requires a collaborative project with multi-actor engagement. Proposals must ensure adequate involvement of all key actors in the relevant value chains across the sustainable circular bio-based system, explicitly including primary producers (farmers) to guarantee acceptance and adoption. Exact minimum consortium size and composition rules follow Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex B) and the CBE JU Annual Work Programme; applicants must verify minimum participation requirements in the Submission System.

Geographic eligibility

Beneficiary scope:Geographic eligibility is governed by Horizon Europe rules (Annex B). In practice eligible entities are from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries; some non-associated third countries may participate but funding eligibility depends on specific rules or bilateral arrangements. Applicants from non-eligible third countries should check national rules and any provisions for making funding available through their national authorities.

Target sectors and technologies in scope

Target sectors:agriculture and agri-food; bio-based industry and biorefineries; chemicals and crop protection; soil health and environmental protection; biotechnology; microbial and biochemical production processes; formulation science; product validation and scaling; circular economy and resource recovery. Technologies and topics explicitly in scope include: development and industrial production of bioactive molecules and biotechnology solutions for bio-fertilisers, bio-stimulants, bioherbicides, biopesticides, bioinsecticides; formulation design and controlled-release systems that avoid microplastic accumulation; process scale-up and robustness against feedstock variability; production validation ensuring consistent N/P/K in fertilisers; field demonstration across climatic and soil conditions and farming systems; sanitary and environmental risk assessment and SSbD application.

Mentioned countries and references

Explicit country references:None specific in the topic text beyond the EU/Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries references implied by Horizon rules. External references cited: FAO global estimates on crop losses to pests and diseases; CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026; EU SSbD framework materials and Guidance. Applicants must consult the CBE JU reference documents CBE JU reference documents and the SSbD web resources Safe and sustainable by design.

Project maturity / expected stage

Expected project stage:Projects must demonstrate industrial production at TRL 8 and validate formulations and agronomic performance at TRL 6 or above. The call targets late development, demonstration, scale-up and market replication stages rather than purely basic research or early TRL work. The activity mix should include industrial-scale processing, formulation, validation, field trials and regulatory and market preparedness tasks.

Indicative funding amounts and budget overview

Indicative topic envelope:Around €20,000,000 is indicated for this Innovation Action Flagship topic. The CBE JU 2026 call aggregate budget is €170,760,699 across multiple topics and action types. Indicative grant amounts across other topics in the call range from approximately €3,250,000 to €20,000,000 depending on action type and topic. Individual grant sizes will depend on detailed proposal budgets and CBE JU selection decisions.

Application method, stages and templates

Application type and submission route:Open call (single-stage) via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System. Applicants must start submission by selecting the relevant HORIZON-JU-IA action and confirming the HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based MGA. Submission is electronic only.

Application forms and templates:Use the application form provided in the Submission System. Part A handles administrative data and partner details. Part B contains the technical proposal, Part B page limits and layout follow Annex A/E of the General Annexes. For IA-Flagship projects an additional business plan annex is required. Evaluation form templates and the standard evaluation grid for HE RIA/IA will be used with adaptations. Applicants must consult the CBE JU Call documents and the Funding & Tenders Portal for the exact template versions.

1. 1Application form structure (high-level): Part A — administrative data and budget; Part B — scientific/technical description (excellence, impact, implementation), work plan, deliverables, milestones, risk management, exploitation and dissemination, ethics, data management; Annexes — CVs, Letters of Support, Business Plan Annex for IA-Flagship, and other requested supporting documents.
2. 2Specific content expectations: clear TRL evidence, industrial production plans (TRL 8 demonstration), production validation procedures (fertiliser N/P/K variability control), field demo plans with primary producers, regulatory compliance and risk assessment tasks, application of SSbD framework, mapping of complementarities with existing projects.
3. 3Where to find templates and guidance: Submission System Part B template; HE Programme Guide; CBE JU call-specific guidance and the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026. Use the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual for procedural support.

Evaluation, award criteria, timeline and success rates

Evaluation and award criteria:Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are defined by Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex D) and standard evaluation forms (HE RIA/IA) will be adapted. Typical evaluation criteria categories are Excellence, Impact and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation with defined scoring and thresholds. The CBE JU call uses the standard HE award criteria adapted for IAs and IA-flagships; applicants must consult Annex D and the evaluation templates for exact scoring and thresholds.

Indicative evaluation timeline and grant agreement:The indicative evaluation timeline and grant agreement processes are governed by Annex F of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual. Exact dates for evaluation steps are not specified in the topic text and will follow standard Horizon procedures. Applicants should allow several months from submission to signature depending on evaluation and negotiation stages.

Success rates:The topic listing and call pages do not provide historic or guaranteed success rates. Success rates depend on the number and quality of submissions and available budget. Applicants should plan competitive proposals aligned with the topic scope to improve chances; consult National Contact Points and CBE JU guidance for support.

Financial, legal and co-funding details

Nature of support:Direct financial support via Horizon grant (monetary funding). Depending on the beneficiary type and action cost categories, the grant will cover eligible project costs under the Horizon rules; the topic itself does not list hybrid or repayable instruments. The grant will be managed under the HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based model grant agreement (MGA).

Co-funding requirements:The topic text does not specify an extraordinary co-funding rate. For Horizon Innovation Actions (IA) the standard funding rules under Horizon Europe apply; applicants must consult the HE General Annexes and the Model Grant Agreement for the applicable funding rates and eligible cost rules. Note: Horizon historically funds IAs up to 70% of eligible costs for profit-making entities and up to 100% for non-profit legal entities for certain actions, but funding rates for this specific call must be confirmed in the Work Programme General Annexes and the call documentation.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion:Applicants will be assessed for operational and financial capacity in accordance with Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and rules for legal entity validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity assessment.

Evaluation stages and project lifecycle

Application stages:Single-stage submission (one formal proposal). After submission proposals pass the evaluation stage(s) defined in the HE General Annexes. Typical stages: 1) admissibility and eligibility checks, 2) remote evaluation by experts, 3) consensus and ranking, 4) award decision and grant preparation/negotiation. Overall number of formal stages to obtain funding is therefore effectively between 3 and 4 procedural steps from submission to grant signature.

Mandatory technical, regulatory and SSbD actions required in proposals

1. 1Demonstrate industrial production at TRL 8 for SSbD bio-based fertilisers and/or crop protection products.
2. 2Validate product formulation and agronomic efficacy, safety and sustainability at TRL 6 or above with appropriate benchmarks against existing synthetic/mineral products.
3. 3Implement production validation procedures for bio-based fertilisers ensuring reduced nutrient (N/P/K) variability in end-products.
4. 4Design and conduct field trials with primary producers across multiple demo farms, covering varied climatic and soil conditions and farming systems (including organic).
5. 5Perform sanitary and environmental risk assessments to avoid introduction of harmful biological or chemical contaminants; assess human health and soil ecosystem impacts.
6. 6Identify regulatory gaps and propose recommendations to overcome entry-to-market bottlenecks; address compliance with EU regulatory frameworks for manufacturing and market entry.
7. 7Apply the EU SSbD framework and document compliance with SSbD criteria and methodology.
8. 8Avoid microplastic accumulation in soil when using controlled release mechanisms.
9. 9Demonstrate complementarities with past and ongoing relevant R&I projects (Horizon 2020/Europe, BBI JU/CBE JU etc.) and describe links and synergies.

Practical advice and support resources

Support services and guidance:Use the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026, Model Grant Agreement templates, and the CBE JU call-specific documents. National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, the Research Enquiry Service and the IT Helpdesk provide practical support. For SSbD application and criteria consult the Commission SSbD web resources and the JRC SSbD Methodological Guidance and bootcamps. For intellectual property issues consult the European IPR Helpdesk.

Categorisation and structured answers

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Universities and higher education institutions; research institutes and public research organisations; SMEs and startups (including scaleups and spin-offs); large enterprises and industry actors (bio-based industry, biorefineries); farmer organisations and cooperatives; NGOs; public authorities; demonstration and testing facilities; technology transfer organisations; other legal entities from eligible countries able to sign grant agreements. Primary producers (farmers) must be involved as stakeholders in the multi-actor approach.
2. 2Funding Type: Grant funding via Horizon Europe action grants administered by CBE JU (HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based MGA).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Consortium collaborative action with multi-actor engagement is required. The exact minimum consortium composition is governed by Horizon Europe eligibility rules (Annex B). The topic expects multiple partners across the value chain including primary producers.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Entities from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries are eligible as per Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme. Some non-associated third countries may participate under specific conditions; verify national arrangements.
5. 5Target Sector: Agriculture/agri-food; bio-based industry and biorefinery processing; biotechnology; crop protection and fertilisers; soil and environmental quality; circular bio-based systems; formulation science; regulatory and risk assessment for chemicals and bio-based products.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: No specific countries were named in the topic text. Region: European Union and Horizon Europe Associated Countries implied. External organisations referenced: FAO (for global crop loss statistics).
7. 7Project Stage: Late-stage development, demonstration, validation and industrial deployment: TRL 6 (validation) to TRL 8 (industrial production demonstration).
8. 8Funding Amount: Indicative topic budget: around €20,000,000 for this IA-flagship. Call-level aggregate: €170,760,699 across multiple topics in the CBE JU 2026 call. Typical grants in the call vary from ~€3.25 million to ~€20 million depending on the topic and action type.
9. 9Application Type: Open call; single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; electronic submission only.
10. 10Nature of Support: Monetary grants (direct funding). Projects will also receive non-monetary benefits indirectly from networking, visibility and alignment with EU policy frameworks; but primary support is financial.
11. 11Application Stages: Single-stage submission followed by standard Horizon evaluation sequence (admissibility/eligibility checks, remote expert evaluation, consensus/ranking, award decision and grant preparation) — typically 3 to 4 administrative stages.
12. 12Success Rates: Not provided in the topic text; success rates depend on number/quality of proposals and budget available. No historical success rate is published for this specific topic in the call documentation.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: The topic does not define an exceptional co-funding requirement in the text. Standard Horizon Europe funding rules apply; applicants must consult the HE General Annexes and Model Grant Agreement for funding rates and eligible costs. (Historically, Innovation Actions have funding rates up to 70% for for-profit entities and up to 100% for non-profit entities under defined conditions — verify in the call documentation).

Templates and application structure guidance

Application templates:Use the Submission System application form. The high-level structure applicants must prepare (refer to Submission System Part B and annexes):

1. 1Part A: Administrative data — coordinator and beneficiary details, budget summary, ethics, legal entity validation fields.
2. 2Part B: Technical description — Technical excellence (objectives, background, TRL evidence), Methodology and Work plan (work packages, tasks, Gantt, milestones), Implementation (consortium roles, resources, management, risk management), Impact (expected outcomes, market uptake, exploitation, dissemination, communication), Regulatory and safety compliance (sanitary and environmental risk assessments, regulatory gap analysis), SSbD application (methodological description of how SSbD framework and criteria will be applied and evidenced), Ethics and data management (including environmental monitoring data).
3. 3Annexes: CVs of key personnel, Letters of Support or commitment from demo farms and industrial partners, Business Plan Annex for IA-Flagship (financial plan, market strategy, scalability plan), Detailed budget tables, Supporting technical data and existing validation reports, Complementarity mapping with previous projects.
4. 4Formatting and page limits: Follow Part B of the application form in the Submission System and Annex A/E of the HE General Annexes for page limits, formatting and layout rules.

Advice on SSbD evidence:Include a specific work package or dedicated tasks to: apply the SSbD assessment framework (cite methodology), document SSbD criteria compliance for active substances, raw materials and final formulations, report on testing against SSbD indicators, and participate or reference JRC/PARC SSbD tools and bootcamps where relevant.

Key points to ensure competitiveness of proposals

1. 1Demonstrate clear industrial-scale TRL 8 capability or credible industrial partners able to deliver TRL 8 demonstration within the project.
2. 2Provide robust production validation data for fertiliser nutrient content consistency (N/P/K) and for efficacy/safety of crop protection solutions with benchmark comparisons against existing market products.
3. 3Include well-designed, geographically and agronomically diverse demo farms with farmer engagement and adoption pathways (MAA).
4. 4Complete sanitary and environmental risk assessments and a regulatory gap analysis with actionable recommendations for market entry.
5. 5Show documented application of the SSbD framework and use of available JRC methodological guidance and PARC toolbox for evidence.
6. 6Ensure synergies and complementarities with existing Horizon/BBI/CBE projects and include clear exploitation and business plan material (IA-Flagship business plan annex).
7. 7Plan for monitoring of soil and water impacts, including microplastic avoidance and pollutant minimisation strategies.

Conclusion — what this opportunity is about

This CBE JU Horizon Europe Innovation Action Flagship topic seeks large-scale, industry-led projects that can demonstrate and validate Safe and Sustainable by Design bio-based alternatives to conventional mineral fertilisers and synthetic crop protection products. The aim is to bring to industrial-scale operations bio-derived fertilisers, bio-stimulants and biological crop protection products that are cost-competitive, agronomically effective and demonstrably safer and more sustainable over their lifecycle. Projects must provide TRL 8 industrial production demonstrations, TRL 6+ formulation validation and field demonstrations across diverse climates and soils, include robust production validation (nutrient consistency for fertilisers), apply SSbD assessment, perform sanitary and environmental risk assessments and address regulatory pathways and market uptake through a multi-actor approach involving primary producers and industry stakeholders. The topic is funded by Horizon grants administered by the CBE JU, with an indicative budget for this topic of around €20 million, single-stage electronic submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal and full compliance with the Horizon Europe General Annexes and CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026.

Next steps for applicants:Review the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 and the specific call documentation on the Funding & Tenders Portal, prepare a consortium with strong industrial and farmer engagement, draft the IA-Flagship business plan annex, ensure SSbD methodology is integrated into the project design, plan field demonstrations and regulatory/market readiness tasks, and submit via the Portal before 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.

Contact and support:For questions consult the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, CBE JU call pages and reference documents, National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network and the CBE JU help contacts (info[at]cbe.europa.eu).

Reference materials and resources:CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026, Horizon Europe General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, SSbD framework and JRC Methodological Guidance, PARC toolbox and SSbD stakeholder resources; applicants should cite and link these documents in proposals as appropriate CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 Safe and sustainable by design. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1CBE JU 2026 call and topic pages on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal provide the call-level budget and topic-level indicative contributions. See the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page for HORIZON-JU and the CBE JU open calls page for the call breakdown.

Opportunity Overview

This is a flagship Innovation Action (IA) call under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) 2026 programme. The opportunity targets the development and industrial-scale deployment of safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) bio-based alternatives to synthetic and mineral fertilisers and crop protection products. The call is part of a broader €170.7 million funding initiative across 13 topics designed to accelerate sustainable bio-based solutions across Europe.

Strategic Context and Rationale

The opportunity addresses critical global challenges:the FAO estimates that up to 40 percent of global food crops are lost annually due to plant pests and diseases, costing the global economy over USD €220 billionyearly. The EU faces significant dependency on imports of mineral and chemical fertilisers, while over-reliance on synthetic products poses risks to soil health, food quality, and supply chain resilience. Bio-based alternatives offer pathways to reduce chemical inputs, enhance EU strategic autonomy, and support the transition toward circular bioeconomy models that align with the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Soil Deal for Europe, and the Clean Industrial Deal.

Call Identification and Timeline

Call Identifier:HORIZON-JU

Opening Date:23 April 2026

Submission Deadline:22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET (single-stage submission)

Submission Model:Single-stage evaluation process

Funding Information

Total Budget Allocation:Approximately €20 million for this specific topic

Indicative Grant Size:Around €20 million per project, though the call documentation indicates this is an indicative figure and actual awards may vary based on proposal quality and evaluation outcomes

Funding Rate:100 percent for universities and research institutions. For other eligible entities, standard Horizon Europe rules apply. In-kind contributions to operational activities (IKOP) from Bio-based Industries Consortium members are expected as a minimal requirement.

Type of Action:Innovation Action (IA) - Flagship. This action type scales activities from prototype to product validation and market replication, with flagships specifically deploying first-of-its-kind innovations on the European market.

Grant Agreement Model:HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG)

Scope and Expected Outcomes

Successful projects are expected to deliver full industrial-scale biorefineries and related value chains for sustainable production of bio-based fertilisers and/or crop protection solutions. Key expected outcomes include increased availability of cost-competitive and SSbD bio-based alternatives with suitable agronomic efficacy, reduced reliance on synthetic and mineral agricultural chemicals, enhanced EU strategic autonomy through robust cooperation between bio-based industries and farmers, and improved soil health with minimised microplastics and pollutant accumulation.

Technical Requirements and Project Scope

Proposals must address the following core technical requirements:

1. 1Demonstrate at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 the efficient industrial production of SSbD bio-based solutions as alternatives to current fertilising and/or crop protection products. Eligible bioactive molecules and biotechnology solutions include bio-fertilisers, bio-stimulants, and pest/disease control products such as bioherbicides, biopesticides, and bioinsecticides, or combinations thereof. Products may be applicable at any crop cycle stage.
2. 2Validate at TRL 6 and above the produced bio-alternatives in formulated end-products and test agronomic efficiency, safety, and sustainability to demonstrate achievement of similar or improved properties compared to defined market benchmarks (synthetic and/or mineral). For bio-based fertilisers, establish solid production validation procedures to ensure reduced nutrient variability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N/P/K) content in end-products.
3. 3Test developed products with primary producers on demonstration farms for selected crops while monitoring effects on soil health, quality, and water. Cover different climatic and soil conditions, accounting for diverse farming systems including organic agriculture. If controlled release mechanisms are employed, innovations must avoid microplastics accumulation in soil.
4. 4Ensure adequate involvement of all key value chain actors through a multi-actor approach (MAA), including primary producers, to support acceptance and adoption of developed products.
5. 5Address compliance with relevant EU regulatory frameworks for manufacturing and market entry of targeted bio-based alternatives. Perform sanitary and environmental risk assessments to prevent introduction of harmful biological and/or chemical contaminants into soil, crops, and the food chain while safeguarding human health and soil ecosystems. Identify potential regulatory gaps and provide recommendations to overcome bottlenecks.
6. 6Apply the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework developed by the European Commission for assessment of targeted bio-based products. Develop recommendations that advance SSbD framework application, including thresholds supporting criteria definition and improvements for assessment methodologies specific to bio-based crop protection products. Identify data gaps in safety, environmental, and socio-economic factors and establish priorities for data collection.
7. 7Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing research and innovation projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe (Cluster 6 and other clusters), and BBI JU/CBE JU projects.

Eligibility Criteria

Standard Horizon Europe eligibility conditions apply. Consortium composition requirements and eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Eligible participants include universities, research institutions, companies, non-governmental organisations, and international organisations established in eligible countries. Collaborative projects must comprise at least three independent legal entities each established in different countries. Financial and operational capacity requirements are detailed in Annex C of the General Annexes. Participants must comply with EU exclusion criteria and provide evidence of financial and operational capacity to implement the project.

Key Application Requirements

• Proposals must follow admissibility conditions including page limits and layout requirements specified in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
• All proposals must be submitted through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal electronic submission system.
• Applicants must use the standard application form available in the Submission System. For IA-Flagship actions, a business plan annex is required.
• Evaluation will follow standard Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action evaluation criteria and processes as described in Annex D and Annex F of the General Annexes and the Online Manual.
• Proposals must demonstrate clear alignment with CBE JU's Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for 2022-2030 and the specific objectives outlined in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026.
• Applicants should ensure complementarity with existing projects and avoid duplication of efforts with other funded initiatives.

Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) Framework

The SSbD framework is a central requirement for this call. The framework, revised by the European Commission in March 2026, promotes a voluntary decision-making approach to guide innovation toward chemicals and materials that are safer and more sustainable across their entire life cycles. Projects must systematically apply safety and sustainability considerations during design, development, production, and uptake phases. The framework aims to enhance competitiveness by steering innovation toward safer alternatives, minimising health, climate, and environmental impacts from sourcing through end-of-life stages. ¹ Applicants are expected to contribute recommendations advancing SSbD framework application, including specific thresholds for bio-based crop protection products and identification of critical data gaps for future research priorities.

Support Resources and Guidance

Multiple support mechanisms are available to applicants. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides detailed guidance on funding structure, budget, and political priorities. The Funding and Tenders Portal Online Manual guides applicants through submission and evaluation procedures. National Contact Points (NCPs) in each eligible country provide guidance, practical information, and assistance on Horizon Europe participation. The Enterprise Europe Network offers specialised support for SMEs. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. The CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks advise on standardisation integration. The NCP_WIDERA.NET project offers a pre-check proposal service for eligible applicants seeking professional feedback before submission. ²

Evaluation and Award Process

Evaluation follows standard Horizon Europe procedures with award criteria, scoring, and thresholds detailed in Annex D of the General Annexes. The single-stage submission model means all proposals are evaluated in one round. Evaluation timelines and indicative grant agreement procedures are described in Annex F of the General Annexes. Successful proposals will receive HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based agreements. The evaluation process assesses proposals against excellence, implementation, and impact criteria, with particular attention to alignment with CBE JU strategic objectives and the SSbD framework requirements.

Strategic Alignment and Policy Context

This funding opportunity directly supports multiple EU policy frameworks and strategic initiatives. It contributes to the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy, which emphasises sustainable and competitive bio-based solutions for European industrial resilience. The call aligns with the Farm to Fork Strategy's objectives to reduce pesticide use and promote sustainable food systems. It supports the Horizon Europe Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe', particularly objectives to reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration. The initiative contributes to the European Chemical Industry Action Plan and the Clean Industrial Deal, which prioritises toxic-free, circular, and competitive economies. Success in this call advances EU strategic autonomy by reducing dependency on imported chemical and mineral fertilisers while strengthening the bioeconomy sector.

Broader CBE JU 2026 Call Context

This topic is one of 13 thematic areas within the CBE JU 2026 call, which distributes €170.7 million across Innovation Actions (flagship and standard), Research and Innovation Actions, and Coordination and Support Actions. The 2026 call reflects CBE JU's priorities for high technology readiness levels and market-ready innovations. Other related topics address biorefinery competitiveness, bio-based solutions for home and personal care, nutritional food ingredients, and circular packaging. The CBE JU operates as a public-private partnership under Horizon Europe, with the Bio-based Industries Consortium as the private partner, combining public research funding with industry expertise and market knowledge.

Key Considerations for Applicants

• Proposals must demonstrate clear pathways to industrial-scale production and market deployment, as this is a flagship Innovation Action focused on first-of-its-kind market innovations.
• Strong engagement with farmers and primary producers is essential; the multi-actor approach is not optional but a core requirement for project success.
• Regulatory compliance and risk assessment are critical components; applicants must demonstrate thorough understanding of EU regulatory frameworks for their specific bio-based products.
• The SSbD framework application must be substantive and contribute to advancing the framework's practical implementation, not merely a compliance checkbox.
• Cost-competitiveness with synthetic and mineral alternatives is a key success criterion; proposals must demonstrate realistic pathways to market-competitive pricing.
• Microplastics prevention is mandatory for controlled release formulations; this is a non-negotiable environmental requirement.
• Complementarity with existing projects must be clearly articulated to avoid duplication and demonstrate added value.
• Consortium composition should balance research excellence with industry implementation capacity and farmer engagement expertise.
• Applicants should leverage available support services, including NCP guidance and pre-check proposal services, to strengthen proposal quality before submission.

Timeline and Next Steps

The call opened on 23 April 2026 and remains open for submissions until 22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET. CBE JU has scheduled pre-call support activities including an online information day held on 12 March 2026 and a networking event in Brussels on 21 April 2026. The CBE JU networking platform enables participants to identify and form consortia ahead of submission. Applicants should register proposals with the NCP_WIDERA.NET pre-check service early to allow time for feedback incorporation. All submissions must be made through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal electronic submission system; no alternative submission methods are accepted.

Reference Documents and Further Information

Complete topic descriptions, conditions, and requirements are available in the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026. The CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) 2022-2030 provides strategic context and research priorities. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide and Work Programme General Annexes contain detailed eligibility, evaluation, and legal conditions. The Safe and Sustainable by Design framework documentation, including the revised Commission Recommendation and Methodological Guidance, is available through the European Commission's research and innovation website. All call documentation and submission forms are accessible through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal at EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Applicants should consult the CBE JU website at CBE JU for additional resources, FAQs, and contact information.

Footnotes

1. 1The SSbD framework was revised in March 2026 following extensive testing and stakeholder consultation. An updated Methodological Guidance document is expected in April 2026. The framework is voluntary but strongly encouraged for all innovation projects involving chemicals and materials. For detailed information, consult the European Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design webpage and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) guidance materials.
2. 2The NCP_WIDERA.NET project offers professional pre-check services for eligible applicants. Registration and submission of draft proposals for feedback should be completed well in advance of the 22 September 2026 deadline to allow time for revision. National Contact Points in each eligible country also provide free guidance on proposal development and Horizon Europe procedures.