Strengthening the EU crop breeding research and innovation ecosystem for competitive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture

The grant opportunity titled HORIZON-CL6 focuses on strengthening the EU crop breeding ecosystem to enhance agricultural competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability. It is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under Cluster 6, which addresses food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment. Key aspects of this opportunity are outlined below. Eligible applicants for this grant include research institutes, universities, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and public-private partnerships involved in agricultural innovation, as well as industry stakeholders and non-governmental organizations that support sustainable agriculture. The funding is provided through a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, which indicates monetary support without involving equity or loans. A consortium approach is favored, as the project encourages collaboration among various stakeholders including academia, industry, and policymakers, which aligns with the typical requirements for Coordination and Support Actions under Horizon Europe. Geographic eligibility primarily covers EU member states and associated countries. While non-EU participants may be considered, the focus is primarily on EU-centric activities. The grant targets sectors related to agriculture, specifically crop breeding and sustainable farming systems, in line with the objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy and the EU Green Deal. Although specific funding amounts are not detailed, Horizon Europe grants generally range from €200,000 to €1M, with larger collaborative projects exceeding €1M. The application process is single-stage, requiring full proposal submissions by the deadline of September 16, 2025. The success rates for Horizon Europe projects typically range between 10% and 39%, indicating a competitive selection process. Co-funding may be required, although it is not explicitly stated in the available information. In summary, this grant aims to bolster the EU's capabilities in crop breeding by fostering collaboration among researchers and industry players. The overarching goal is to transition towards resilient and sustainable agricultural systems, addressing climate change, enhancing resource efficiency, and protecting biodiversity within the agricultural sector. The initiative focuses on linking research and practical application in plant genetics and agroecological practices, promoting an innovative and sustainable future for agriculture within the EU framework.

This is a summary of EU funding opportunities related to agriculture, climate, and communities under the Horizon Europe program, specifically focusing on Cluster 6, Call 02 for the year 2025. The call includes a variety of topics ranging from research and innovation actions (RIA) to coordination and support actions (CSA) and co-fund actions, all aimed at supporting the European Green Deal and ensuring resilient and sustainable agri-food systems. The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is September 16, 2025. All actions are single-stage.

The funding opportunities are divided into three main categories:Climate, Communities, and Farm to Fork. Each category has several specific topics with varying budgets and expected contributions.

Climate:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-01:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-02:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €19,500,000 and an indicative number of 3 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-03:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-04:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

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

Communities:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-01:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €13,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-02:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €6,000,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-03:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €6,000,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-04:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

Farm to Fork:

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

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

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-03:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-04:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €11,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-05:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-06:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €16,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-07:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-08:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €6,000,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of €3,000,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant. This specific topic aims to strengthen the EU crop breeding research and innovation ecosystem for competitive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-10:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-11:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-12:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-13:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of €2,000,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-14:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

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

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-16:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €6,000,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-17:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €8,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants.

General conditions for participation include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries, and other specific conditions outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Financial and operational capacity will be assessed, and exclusion criteria apply. Evaluation and award processes follow the guidelines in the General Annexes and the Online Manual. Eligible costs will be reimbursed as a lump sum.

Application forms and evaluation templates are available in the Submission System, along with guidance documents such as the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and Model Grant Agreements.

The overall objective of these funding opportunities is to promote sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in line with the European Green Deal and the Common Agricultural Policy. This involves supporting research and innovation in areas such as climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and efficient resource management, with a focus on plant breeding and biotechnology. The funding aims to foster collaboration between various stakeholders, including farmers, breeders, researchers, and industry, to ensure that research outcomes meet diverse agricultural, environmental, and societal needs.

In simple terms, this EU funding initiative is designed to make European agriculture more sustainable, resilient to climate change, and competitive by supporting research and innovation in plant breeding and related areas. It provides financial support for projects that align with the goals of the European Green Deal and the Common Agricultural Policy, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing among different actors in the agri-food sector. The funding is structured around different types of actions, including research, innovation, and coordination, with specific budgets allocated to each area.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include farmers, breeders, industry stakeholders (including SMEs), research institutions, infrastructure providers, and other actors in the agri-food sector, as the proposals should consider their perspectives and needs. The mention of SMEs in the breeding sector suggests they are eligible. The call is open to both public and private entities.

Funding Type:The funding type is primarily grant-based, specifically HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND). Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity appears to favor a consortium approach, as it emphasizes collaboration across international, regional, and national levels, integrating the needs of various stakeholders, and establishing EU-wide networks. However, the eligibility of single applicants cannot be ruled out without further information.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The primary geographic eligibility is focused on the 27 EU Member States. However, non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible, as specific provisions may exist for their participation in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector:The program targets the agriculture and food sector, with a specific focus on crop production, plant breeding, agri-food systems, biotechnology, and biomanufacturing. It also addresses climate-neutrality and climate-resilience in farming.

Mentioned Countries:The opportunity explicitly mentions the 27 EU Member States. It also refers to non-EU and non-associated countries, indicating a broader international scope.

Project Stage:The opportunity targets a range of project stages, including research, innovation, development, and implementation. It supports both research-oriented actions (RIA) and innovation-oriented actions (IA), as well as coordination and support activities (CSA).

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. The indicative budgets range from €2,000,000 to €50,000,000 for the year 2025, with some topics also having allocated budgets for 2026 and 2027. The indicative number of grants per topic ranges from 1 to 3, except for HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-05 and HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-01, -02, -15 which indicate 1 grant.

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 grants.

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates can be roughly estimated based on the indicative number of grants and the contributions. For example, a topic with "around 2 grants" and €12 000 000 budget can be considered to have a low success rate.

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

Summary:This Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call focuses on strengthening the EU crop breeding research and innovation ecosystem to foster competitive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture. It aims to support the objectives of the common agricultural policy and the European Green Deal. The call encompasses a variety of actions, including research and innovation actions (RIA), innovation actions (IA), and coordination and support actions (CSA), with a range of funding levels. The primary focus is on crop production, plant breeding, and related activities within the EU, with consideration for the needs of farmers, breeders, industry stakeholders, and society. The call encourages collaboration across different levels and sectors, promoting a more connected and cohesive approach to research and breeding. It also emphasizes the importance of addressing climate change, enhancing water and nutrient efficiency, protecting biodiversity, and improving soil health. The call is structured around several key topics, including climate-related actions, community-related actions, and farm-to-fork actions, each with its specific scope and expected outcomes. The overall goal is to enable farmers and relevant actors in the agri-food sector to manage sustainable, efficient, profitable, circular, and low greenhouse gas-emitting farming systems, contributing to climate-neutrality and climate-resilience.