Strengthening plant health: addressing emerging plant pest risks

The grant opportunity under Horizon Europe, titled HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage, focuses on strengthening plant health by addressing emerging plant pest risks. The total budget for this initiative is €12 million, with the anticipated granting of two grants of €6 million each. The funding mechanism employed is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, categorized as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA).

Eligible applicants for this opportunity include a wide array of stakeholders such as research institutions, universities, public research organizations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, farmer organizations, advisory services, and representatives from the forestry sector. A mandatory aspect of this grant is the formation of a consortium that employs a multi-actor approach, integrating expertise from various sectors to tackle plant health issues effectively. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may also partake as a consortium member without funding but will not engage in proposal preparation and submission.

Geographically, applicants must be based in EU member states or Associated Countries, as specified in the Horizon Europe Work Programme. International collaboration with non-EU countries affected by similar pests is strongly encouraged, though funding for participants from these third countries is dependent on specific bilateral agreements.

The call emphasizes sectors related to agriculture, forestry, and plant health, specifically targeting crop protection, pest management, and sustainable practices. Proposals should focus on understanding pest biology and spread mechanisms, developing cost-effective control tools and methods, and assessing socio-economic impacts. The project aims to deliver practical solutions that enhance pest management and support sustainable agriculture.

The application process consists of two stages. It opens on 4 February 2027, with the first stage deadline on 8 April 2027 and the second stage deadline on 14 September 2027. Proposals are subject to blind evaluation in the initial stage, requiring anonymity regarding organization details.

Applicants can provide financial support to third parties, limited to €60,000 per recipient, for purposes such as the development and demonstration of pest management tools. The opportunity seeks to address significant socio-economic and environmental threats posed by plant pests and encourages innovative strategies that align with EU policies on agriculture and food security.

Overall, this call for proposals represents a strategic initiative focused on enhancing plant health and ensuring food security within the EU and Associated Countries in light of increasing pest threats exacerbated by climate change and globalization.

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals under the HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage topic, focusing on strengthening plant health by addressing emerging plant pest risks. It is a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a two-stage submission process. The call falls under the broader Horizon Europe Programme, specifically Call 02 for 2027. The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS].

The planned opening date for submissions is 04 February 2027. The deadline for the first stage is 08 April 2027 at 17:00:00 Brussels time, and the deadline for the second stage is 14 September 2027 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include: improved understanding of key drivers of plant pest emergence, including the influence of climate change, ecosystem degradation, and globalisation; cost-effective and environmentally friendly preventive and/or curative measures for managing the targeted plant pest(s) are identified, validated, and made available to farmers and forest owners for effective pest management; robust scientific support is delivered to strengthen decision-making processes.

The scope of the call is to strengthen plant health by addressing emerging plant pests, whether regulated or unregulated, introduced or native, that pose significant socio-economic and/or environmental threats to agriculture and forestry within the EU and Associated Countries. Proposals should target one or more emerging plant pests, considering the increasing risks driven by climate change, biodiversity loss, land use changes, and globalisation, excluding pests already targeted in specific Horizon Europe topics.

Proposals should: enhance understanding of pest biology, introduction pathways, and mechanisms of spread; develop rapid, safe, and cost-effective tools and methods for preventing introduction and spread, including early detection, surveillance, treatment, and (bio)control measures; assess the social, economic, and environmental impacts of plant pest establishment and spread; contribute to the identification of resistant and/or tolerant traits.

Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is permitted, for example, to develop, test, and demonstrate tools and methods for early detection, surveillance, treatment, and (bio)control measures. The multi-actor approach is mandatory, ensuring that knowledge and needs from various sectors such as research, plant health services, farming/forestry, advisory services, and industry are brought together. International cooperation with countries affected or threatened by the same pest(s) is strongly encouraged. Results should address diverse farming systems/approaches, including conventional and organic farming. A gender-sensitive and inclusive approach is recommended, considering the specific needs of groups in vulnerable situations.

Proposals should contribute to the objectives of the common agricultural policy, the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, the EU’s Vision for Agriculture and Food, the EU Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production, and support Regulation 2016/2031 on protective measures against pests of plants. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium, potentially collaborating on updating potential impacts of selected pests and the acceptability of control measures.

A pest is defined as any species, strain, or biotype of plant, animal, or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products (EU Regulation 2016/2031). Applicants are expected to explain and justify the choice of pest(s).

Regarding admissibility conditions, applicants submitting a proposal for a blind evaluation must not disclose their organisation names, acronyms, logos, or names of personnel in the proposal abstract and Part B of their first-stage application. Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium with zero funding or as an associated partner but will not participate in the proposal's preparation and submission. The multi-actor approach is an additional eligibility criterion.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. First-stage proposals will be evaluated blindly, and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of EUR 60,000 per third party. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. Legal and financial set-up of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including a standard application form (HE RIA, IA). Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including a standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, detailed budget table (HE LS), information on financial support to third parties (HE), and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents and legal frameworks.

The budget overview indicates that HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-01-two-stage has a budget of EUR 11,000,000, HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage has a budget of EUR 12,000,000, and HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-02-two-stage has a budget of EUR 12,000,000. The indicative number of grants for each is around 2.

Partner search announcements are available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, and users with public profiles can publish partner requests.

The submission system will open on the date stated on the topic header.

Support resources include the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, and the European Charter for Researchers.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to fund research and innovation projects that address emerging plant pest risks to strengthen plant health in the EU and Associated Countries. It seeks proposals that enhance understanding of pest biology, develop effective prevention and control methods, assess socio-economic impacts, and contribute to sustainable agriculture and forestry practices. The call emphasizes a multi-actor approach, international cooperation, and alignment with EU policies related to agriculture, food, and pesticide use. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and financial support to third parties is permitted up to EUR 60,000 per party. The submission process is two-staged, with specific deadlines in April and September 2027.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include a range of actors such as research organizations, plant health services, entities in the farming/forestry sectors, advisory services, and industry. The multi-actor approach is mandatory, implying a consortium with diverse expertise. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] under the Horizon Europe Programme. Beneficiaries may also provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of EUR 60,000 per third party.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required. The proposal must implement the multi-actor approach, bringing together knowledge and needs from various sectors.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes 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 sector is agriculture and forestry, specifically focusing on plant health, food security, ecosystems, and biodiversity. It also touches upon climate, environment, and innovation in pest management.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the eligibility extends to the EU and Associated Countries. There is also encouragement for international cooperation with countries affected or threatened by the same pests.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be aimed at research, development, validation, and demonstration, with an emphasis on identifying and validating cost-effective and environmentally friendly measures for managing plant pests. The call also aims to deliver robust scientific support to strengthen decision-making processes.

Funding Amount: The budget for the HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage topic is EUR 12,000,000. The indicative number of grants is around 2. The budget for the HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-01-two-stage topic is EUR 11,000,000. The indicative number of grants is around 2. The budget for the HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-02-two-stage topic is EUR 12,000,000. The indicative number of grants is around 2.

Application Type: The application type is a two-stage open call under the Horizon Europe Programme. The first stage proposals of this topic will be evaluated blindly.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. They can also provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants up to EUR 60,000 per third party.

Application Stages: The application process is two-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined from the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage, HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-01-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-02-two-stage, aims to strengthen plant health within the EU and Associated Countries by addressing emerging plant pest risks. The call encourages proposals that target one or more emerging plant pests, considering the increasing risks driven by climate change, biodiversity loss, and globalization. The projects should enhance the understanding of pest biology, develop rapid and cost-effective tools for prevention and control, assess the socio-economic impacts of pests, and contribute to identifying resistant traits. A multi-actor approach is mandatory, requiring the involvement of various sectors such as research, plant health services, farming/forestry, advisory services, and industry. International cooperation is strongly encouraged. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and beneficiaries can further distribute grants to third parties for specific tasks like developing and demonstrating tools. The application process is two-staged, with the first stage undergoing blind evaluation. The call is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, emphasizing the importance of plant health for agriculture, forestry, food security, and environmental sustainability. The total budget for the HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage topic is EUR 12,000,000, for the HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-01-two-stage topic is EUR 11,000,000 and for the HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-02-two-stage topic is EUR 12,000,000, with an indicative number of 2 grants per topic. The opening date for the call is planned for 04 February 2027, with deadlines on 08 April 2027 and 14 September 2027.