Towards more effective, fair and coherent policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and forestry

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-01 focuses on developing effective and coherent policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and forestry, with a budget of €6,000,000 allocated for a single large research project. This call is part of a wider initiative that promotes multidisciplinary research and innovation actions, particularly encouraging collaboration among diverse entities including universities, research institutions, public bodies, private enterprises, and non-profits.

Eligible applicants are expected to form consortia, with the objective of integrating various expertise to tackle the complex policy challenges that arise in the climate sector. The application process is a single-stage submission, requiring a complete proposal by April 14, 2026, with a structured evaluation shortly after. The anticipated result of the research will be a comprehensive analysis of existing policies, new findings on their effectiveness, and recommendations for improving policy coherence across the European Union and associated countries.

While the geographic scope prioritizes EU and Associated Countries, non-EU nations may participate under specific conditions related to funding and collaboration. Proposals should incorporate social sciences and humanities perspectives alongside natural and agricultural sciences, effectively addressing the interplay between environmental sustainability and social equity.

This funding initiative reflects the European Commission's push to synthesize policy tools and explore trade-offs and synergies among different climate actions within the agriculture and forestry sectors, ultimately guiding more equitable and sustainable practices. The expected outcome is not only robust scientific insight but actionable frameworks that inform policy-making at various governance levels, benefiting both local and regional stakeholders within the larger context of EU climate strategy.

This is a summary of multiple Horizon Europe calls for proposals related to climate, communities, and farm to fork initiatives. The calls are part of the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically under Call 02 single stage (2026) (HORIZON CL6 2026 02). The type of action for most calls is HORIZON RIA (Research and Innovation Actions), but some are HORIZON IA (Innovation Actions) and HORIZON CSA (Coordination and Support Actions). The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) type is HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON AG LS]. All calls follow a single stage deadline model with a planned opening date of January 14, 2026, and a deadline of April 14, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The overarching goal is to support research and innovation that contributes to more effective, fair, and coherent policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and forestry. Project results should provide decision makers and stakeholders in the EU and associated countries with comprehensive information and analyses on policy tools, evidence on trade offs and synergies, and promote mutual learning on climate policy strategies.

Key areas of focus include:

Climate: Addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and forestry, considering greenhouse gas emissions, carbon removals, and the impact of various policies.

Communities: Supporting sustainable and inclusive development in rural and urban communities.

Farm to Fork: Promoting sustainable food systems, from production to consumption, including aspects of food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.

Specific call topics and their respective budgets and indicative number of grants are as follows:

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 CLIMATE 01: Towards more effective, fair and coherent policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and forestry. Budget: 6,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 1.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 CLIMATE 02: Understanding the impacts of climate change on plant health. Budget: 10,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 COMMUNITIES 01: Integrated solutions for sustainable and inclusive urban food systems. Budget: 11,800,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions ranging from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 01: Digital solutions for improving animal welfare and reducing antimicrobial use. Budget: 11,800,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions around 5,900,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 02: Developing integrated pest management strategies for sustainable crop production. Budget: 12,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 03: Enhancing soil health for sustainable agriculture. Budget: 12,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 04: Reducing food loss and waste across the food value chain. Budget: 12,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 05: Improving the nutritional value and safety of processed foods. Budget: 12,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 06: Promoting sustainable aquaculture practices. Budget: 12,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 07: Supporting the development of alternative protein sources. Budget: 3,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 1, with contributions around 3,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 08: Assessing the environmental impacts of food production and consumption. Budget: 14,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions around 7,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 09: Developing innovative packaging solutions for sustainable food systems. Budget: 11,800,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions ranging from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 10: Strengthening consumer awareness and engagement in sustainable food choices. Budget: 2,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 1, with contributions around 2,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 11: Improving the resilience of food systems to climate change and other shocks. Budget: 11,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions ranging from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 12: Supporting the transition towards healthier and more sustainable diets. Budget: 2,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 1, with contributions around 2,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 13: Assessing the socio economic impacts of the farm to fork strategy. Budget: 12,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON CL6 2026 02 FARM2FORK 14: Developing new business models for sustainable food value chains. Budget: 11,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2, with contributions ranging from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 EUR.

The general conditions for admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation, award, and legal and financial setup are described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum. Application forms, evaluation forms, model grant agreements, and additional guidance documents are available on the Funding and Tenders Portal. Applicants are encouraged to use the partner search tool to find collaborators and to consult the FAQs and support services provided by the European Commission.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to foster research and innovation that supports the transition towards sustainable and resilient agriculture, forestry, and food systems in the face of climate change and other challenges. It seeks to provide evidence based insights and tools for policy makers and stakeholders to improve the effectiveness, fairness, and coherence of relevant policies. The call encompasses a wide range of topics, from climate change mitigation and adaptation to sustainable food production, consumption, and waste reduction, with a strong emphasis on the contribution of social sciences and humanities.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include entities capable of conducting research and innovation actions, coordination and support actions, and innovation actions. This likely encompasses universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations, including those from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines. The mention of LEAR appointment and financial capacity assessment suggests that a wide range of legal entities, including public and private organizations, are eligible, provided they meet the financial and operational capacity requirements. The possibility of partner requests indicates that consortia are expected, and the eligibility extends to entities from non-EU/non-Associated Countries under specific provisions.

Funding Type: The primary funding mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) being 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: The opportunity appears to favor consortia. The text mentions "Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal" and "LEARs, Account Administrators or self-registrants can publish partner requests," which strongly suggests that collaborative projects involving multiple entities are encouraged, if not required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes the EU and Associated Countries. The text also mentions that "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," suggesting that some third countries may also be eligible under specific conditions outlined 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 climate change mitigation and adaptation in the agriculture and forestry sectors, as well as the broader "Farm to Fork" strategy, which encompasses food production, processing, distribution, and consumption. The program also emphasizes the importance of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the EU and Associated Countries. It also refers to "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" and "third-countries," indicating a broader international scope, although eligibility for these countries may be subject to specific provisions.

Project Stage: The project stages targeted vary depending on the type of action. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) suggest projects in the research, development, and validation stages. Innovation Actions (IA) imply projects in the demonstration, commercialization, or scale-up stages. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) are more focused on networking, coordination, and dissemination activities.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. The budget overview provides the following ranges:
HORIZON-RIA: €6,000,000, €10,000,000, €11,000,000, €11,800,000, €12,000,000, €14,000,000
HORIZON-IA: €11,800,000, €12,000,000
HORIZON-CSA: €2,000,000, €3,000,000
The indicative number of grants per topic is generally 1 or 2.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Call 02 - single stage (2026) (HORIZON-CL6-2026-02)". It is a single-stage submission process.

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

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call (HORIZON-CL6-2026-02) focuses on promoting effective, fair, and coherent policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation within the agriculture and forestry sectors. It is a single-stage open call with a planned opening date of January 14, 2026, and a deadline of April 14, 2026. The call encompasses various types of actions, including Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), each with varying funding amounts. The geographic scope includes the EU, Associated Countries, and potentially some non-EU/non-Associated Countries under specific conditions. The call encourages the participation of a wide range of applicants, including universities, research institutes, SMEs, and other relevant organizations, particularly those with expertise in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). The funding will be provided as lump sum grants. The overall objective is to generate comprehensive information and analyses on policy tools, trade-offs, and synergies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and forestry, ultimately aiming to improve the effectiveness, fairness, and coherence of public policies in these critical sectors.