Tackling pesticide resistance: early detection, management strategies, and foresight

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity, designated as HORIZON-CL6, focuses on "Tackling pesticide resistance: early detection, management strategies, and foresight." It aims to address the pressing issue of pesticide resistance within agricultural and forestry sectors, particularly exacerbated by climate change. Eligible applicants include a range of entities such as research institutions, universities, private companies (including SMEs), agricultural organizations, technology providers, and advisory bodies. The application process mandates a multi-actor approach, necessitating collaboration among various stakeholders from research, industry, and policy sectors. The funding mechanism is structured as a lump sum grant under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically designed to simplify cost reimbursements. A total budget of €12,000,000 is allocated for this topic, anticipating the award of approximately 2 grants, each worth €6,000,000. Proposals must be submitted in a single-stage process, with the opening date set for January 14, 2026, and a deadline of April 14, 2026. The projects proposed should cover intermediate to advanced research stages, emphasizing practical application and addressing current knowledge gaps in pesticide management. The nature of support includes financial grants and additional non-monetary services, designed to assist applicants in navigating the application process. While a specific success rate is not directly provided, historical data suggests a competitive environment, with success rates typically below 10% for similar calls. No explicit co-funding requirements are mentioned, although demonstrating additional resources can enhance project viability. Overall, this grant represents an opportunity for projects that utilize science-based approaches to improve pest management and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices within the EU's policy framework. Key expected outcomes include effective risk mapping, early detection methodologies, innovative pest management strategies, and enhanced stakeholder engagement.

This is a summary of a Horizon Europe grant opportunity focused on tackling pesticide resistance in agriculture and forestry. The call, HORIZON-CL6, is a Horizon Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a single-stage application process. The planned opening date is January 14, 2026, and the deadline for submission is April 14, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The grant will be awarded as a lump sum. The core challenge addressed is the increasing pesticide resistance in agriculture and forestry, exacerbated by climate change and a shrinking portfolio of active substances. The grant aims to foster a comprehensive, science-based approach integrating early detection, adaptive management, and long-term foresight to reduce resistance risks and bolster the sustainability and resilience of these sectors. Expected outcomes of funded projects include: A holistic and science-based approach to tackling pesticide resistance, providing actionable recommendations for improved crop protection and evidence-based decision-making. Empowerment of farmers, advisors, and practitioners with knowledge, tools, and integrated strategies, including environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives that promote agrobiodiversity, supported by data-driven approaches and robust monitoring systems. Enhanced foresight capacities to anticipate resistance trends and support long-term planning for resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. The scope of the projects should include: Mapping resistance risks by assessing current and projected pest resistance, considering the decline in available active substances and authorized products. Developing early detection methods and predictive modeling, including AI-driven approaches, to anticipate and monitor pesticide resistance evolution, integrating advanced measurement tools and risk assessment methodologies at the farm level. Designing and evaluating innovative integrated pest and weed management (IPWM) strategies that reduce resistance risks by expanding non-chemical options, optimizing farming practices, and applying advanced technologies for precise pesticide use, while building on previous initiatives. Innovating storage and handling practices to reduce resistance pressure post-harvest. Supporting foresight activities to anticipate, mitigate, and prevent resistance impacts by exploring technological, environmental, and socio-economic drivers, assessing resistance-management strategies, establishing long-term monitoring, and integrating foresight into decision-making. Enhancing capacity-building, stakeholder engagement, and communication through awareness, education, and co-creation of solutions with end-users. Eligibility conditions include the mandatory implementation of a multi-actor approach, capitalizing on relevant research findings, and collaboration with ongoing initiatives and international committees on pesticide resistance management. The projects should align with EU policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy, the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, the Vision for Agriculture and Food, and the Commission Communication on Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU. The proposal page limits and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are listed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline are described in Annex D and Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Legal and financial aspects are governed by the lump sum funding model, as defined in the Decision of July 7, 2021, and Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Application forms, evaluation templates, and model grant agreements are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the Horizon Europe Main Work Programme 2026-2027, the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Horizon Europe Framework Programme 2021/695, the Horizon Europe Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents related to legal entity validation, financial capacity assessment, and grant management. The budget overview lists several topics under the same call, each with varying budgets and indicative numbers of grants. The topic HORIZON-CL6 specifically has a budget of €12,000,000 and aims to award around 2 grants. Partner search announcements are available for those seeking collaboration. The submission system will open on January 14, 2026. In summary, this Horizon Europe grant opportunity seeks to fund research and innovation actions that address the critical issue of pesticide resistance in agriculture and forestry. It emphasizes a holistic, science-based, and multi-actor approach to develop early detection methods, innovative management strategies, and long-term foresight capabilities. The goal is to empower farmers, improve crop protection, and enhance the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems in the face of climate change and evolving pest resistance. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the application process is single-stage, with a deadline of April 14, 2026.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include a range of actors relevant to research and innovation, agriculture, and forestry. This likely includes research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, farmers, advisors, industry stakeholders, stakeholder networks, and policymakers. The call emphasizes the "multi-actor approach," suggesting a broad eligibility to ensure diverse knowledge and needs are integrated.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a "HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]." The call includes different types of actions: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).

Consortium Requirement:A consortium is required, as the call mandates the implementation of a "multi-actor approach," which necessitates the involvement of a range of actors from various sectors.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-associated countries that have made funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. Detailed information can be found in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector:The program targets the following sectors: agriculture, forestry, climate, food, bioeconomy, natural resources, and environment. Specifically, it focuses on tackling pesticide resistance, promoting sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, and supporting the objectives of the common agricultural policy and the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive. It also aligns with the Vision for Agriculture and Food and supports biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU.

Mentioned Countries:The opportunity focuses on the European Union, and mentions non-EU and associated countries.

Project Stage:The project stage varies depending on the type of action:

Research and Innovation Actions (RIA):These actions support projects aimed at generating new knowledge or exploring the feasibility of new or improved technology, products, processes, services or solutions.

Innovation Actions (IA):These actions support projects aimed at producing plans and arrangements or designing new, altered or improved products, processes or services. These may include prototyping, testing, demonstrating, piloting, large-scale product validation and market replication.

Coordination and Support Actions (CSA):These actions support activities such as coordination, networking, dissemination, awareness-raising and communication, exchanges and good practices, and standardisation.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €2,000,000 to €14,000,000. For example:

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-01:€6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-02:€10,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-08:€14,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-10:€2,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-COMMUNITIES-01:€11,800,000

Application Type:The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic is provided, allowing potential applicants to gauge the competition level.

Co-funding Requirement:The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:This Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL6 focuses on "Tackling pesticide resistance: early detection, management strategies, and foresight." It aims to address the growing challenges in agriculture and forestry due to pesticide resistance, exacerbated by climate change. The call seeks proposals that develop holistic, science-based approaches to improve crop protection, empower farmers with knowledge and tools, and enhance foresight capacities to anticipate and mitigate resistance trends. Projects should map resistance risks, develop early detection methods, design innovative pest management strategies, improve storage practices, and enhance stakeholder engagement. The call requires a multi-actor approach, encouraging collaboration among researchers, farmers, industry, and policymakers. Funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with a single-stage application process. The call is relevant to EU policies such as the common agricultural policy and the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, aligning with the Vision for Agriculture and Food and supporting biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU.