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Grant Details

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to improve grassland management in European livestock farming systems. It seeks to develop and implement sustainable, efficient, and climate-resilient practices that contribute to the EU's agricultural, environmental, and climate goals. - Core objective: Advance sustainable grassland management for livestock farming, focusing on ecosystem services, biodiversity, and climate action. - Target recipient: Organizations engaged in research and innovation within agriculture, environmental science, and food systems. - Size: SECTOR-SPECIFIC, with a particular emphasis on fostering Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) participation. - Geographic scope: European Union and Associated Countries, encouraging broader international cooperation, including with the EU-Africa Partnership. - Key filtering criteria: Projects must address grassland management, integrate a multi-actor approach, and align with EU Green Deal and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) objectives. - Grant frequency: This is part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025, indicating that similar calls may recur within the program's framework.

Financial Structure

  • Funding per project (minimum and maximum contribution): EUR 8,000,000.
  • Total indicative budget for this specific topic (HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-06): EUR 16,000,000.
  • Expected number of grants awarded for this topic: 2.
  • Funding type: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA).
  • Funding rate: Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions typically cover 100.0% of eligible costs.
  • Currency: EUR.
  • Eligible and ineligible costs: Detailed in Annex G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, which covers the legal and financial setup of grants.
  • Financial reporting and audit requirements: Also outlined in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type & Legal Status
  • Multi-actor approach is mandatory: Proposals must ensure adequate involvement of main stakeholders in grassland management across Europe. This includes, but is not limited to, farmers (including those managing protected grassland habitats), shepherds, related organizations in ruminant sectors, advisors, policy-makers, landscape and territorial planners, industry (including SMEs), social economy actors, consumers, environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), civil society, and academia/research.
  • The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium selected for funding.
Geographic Location
  • Eligible Countries are defined in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. This typically includes all EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe.
  • Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may be eligible for funding if specific provisions are made.
  • Projects should cover a variety of grassland systems across different pedo-climatic conditions and biogeographical regions within the EU.
Technical & Operational Qualifications
  • Proposals must be designed as Research and Innovation Actions (RIA).
  • If projects utilize satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
  • Financial and operational capacity requirements are described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Specific exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Applicants should consult these general rules.

Application Process

Application Process
  • Application deadline: 2025-09-16 00:00:00+00.
  • Planned opening date for submissions: 2025-05-06.
  • Submission procedure: Single-stage application process.
  • Application form: The specific application form for this call is available in the Submission System.
  • Required documentation: Applicants must submit Part B of the Application Form, adhering to specified page limits and layout as detailed in the form.
  • Submission platform: Applications must be submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Post-Award & Implementation
  • Project implementation timeline: Not explicitly detailed within the provided text, but proposals must include a plan for collaboration with other projects.
  • Reporting obligations: Detailed in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes, which covers evaluation and grant agreement processes.
  • Monitoring and evaluation: Requirements for monitoring and evaluation are part of the standard grant agreement and Work Programme General Annexes.
Application Support
  • Applicants can access support through the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ.
  • National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance and assistance.
  • The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) offers advice to businesses, particularly SMEs.
  • An IT Helpdesk is available for technical issues related to the Funding & Tenders Portal.
  • The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues.

Evaluation Criteria

Award Criteria & Scoring
  • The award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
  • Standard evaluation forms (HE RIA, IA) will be used, adapted as necessary.
Expected Impact
  • Proposals are expected to contribute to the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU Green Deal's goals for resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, the EU biodiversity strategy, the Nature Restoration Regulation, climate policy, and the EU action plan for the development of organic production.
  • Projects should enable farmers and relevant agricultural actors to manage sustainable, efficient, profitable, circular, low greenhouse gas (GHG)-emitting farming systems that contribute to climate-neutrality and climate-resilience.
  • Expected outcomes include:
  • Improved availability of data, models, and methodologies for measuring, monitoring, assessing, and valorizing the multifunctionality of grassland farming systems.
  • Increased availability, accessibility, and use by farmers of sustainable grassland management knowledge, innovative solutions/practices, and strategies.
  • Enhanced networking, participatory approaches, and knowledge mobilization among relevant stakeholders for sustainable grassland management.
  • Provision of scientific support and recommendations for the development, implementation, and evaluation of EU policies relevant for grasslands.
Project Quality & Implementation
  • Proposals must address all the specified activities: development of methodologies for performance assessment, creation of new knowledge/innovative solutions, development of decision tools, organization of knowledge sharing activities, assessment of public policies, and economic cost-benefit analysis.
  • Projects must cover various farming systems/approaches, with at least one focusing on organic farming.
  • They should capitalize on findings and tools from previous research projects.
  • Proposals must cover diverse grassland systems across different pedo-climatic conditions and biogeographical regions within the EU, including marginal areas and those with intensification trends.
  • Activities should allow for performance and sustainability comparisons between mixed-species and mono-species grasslands.
  • A dedicated task, appropriate resources, and a plan for collaboration with other projects funded under this topic are required.
  • The effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines is essential.
  • Strong involvement of citizens/civil society, academia/research, industry/SMEs/start-ups, and government/public authorities is encouraged through social innovation and citizen engagement.
Innovation & Technology
  • The topic aims for a balance in terms of both high and low Technological Readiness Levels (TRLs).
  • Projects should focus on developing new knowledge, innovative solutions/practices, and manageable strategies for creating, maintaining, and restoring productive, cost-effective, and sustainable grassland systems.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance
  • Projects should directly contribute to and align with the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU Green Deal's goals, the EU biodiversity strategy, the Nature Restoration Regulation, EU climate policy, and the EU action plan for the development of organic production.
  • Beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS for any satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, or related timing data and services.
Project Design & Collaboration
  • The 'multi-actor approach' is a mandatory requirement, ensuring active involvement of diverse stakeholders from practice, research, and policy.
  • Proposals must include an effective contribution from Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines to ensure a human-centered approach and support social innovation.
  • Social innovation and citizen engagement are highly encouraged, requiring strong involvement of citizens, civil society, academia, industry/SMEs/start-ups, and public authorities.
  • International cooperation is encouraged, especially concerning the EU-Africa Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA).
  • Projects should seek complementarities with relevant EU Missions (e.g., 'A Soil Deal for Europe', 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030') and European Partnerships (e.g., Agroecology, Animal Health and Welfare, Sustainable Blue Economy, Sustainable Food Systems for people, planet and climate, Agriculture of Data).
  • Synergies with other EU financial programmes and initiatives, such as the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), are also encouraged.
  • The 'One Health approach' should be applied where relevant.
  • The grant promotes innovation actions for food systems sustainability in widening countries, EU outermost regions, and Central and Eastern Europe.
Intellectual Property & Data
  • Intellectual property policies are typically governed by Annex G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
  • The use of Earth Observation data should be considered where relevant.

Grant Details

grassland management livestock farming european agriculture ecosystem services biodiversity conservation climate change mitigation climate change adaptation sustainable farming food systems agroecology organic farming carbon sequestration soil health greenhouse gas reduction ruminant production forage crops agricultural research innovation actions multi-actor approach smes ngos universities research organizations policy recommendations knowledge transfer socio-economic impact rural development eu green deal common agricultural policy nature restoration copernicus galileo egnos social innovation citizen engagement international cooperation eu-africa partnership trl development food security nutrition animal welfare digital solutions environmental standards sustainable development goals
Improving grassland management in European livestock farming systems
HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-06
Horizon Europe
SME NGO UNIVERSITY OTHER
AT BE BG HR CY CZ DK EE FI FR DE GR HU IE IT LV LT LU MT NL PL PT RO SK SI ES SE
AGRICULTURE ENVIRONMENT SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT EARLY_MARKET GROWTH
OTHER
SDG2 SDG3 SDG9 SDG12 SDG13 SDG15 SDG17
RESEARCH_DEVELOPMENT PILOT_PROJECTS INNOVATION_COMMERCIALIZATION CAPACITY_BUILDING NETWORKING
16000000.00
8000000.00
8000000.00
EUR
100.00
Sept. 16, 2025, midnight
None