CFAs: Advancing the Sustainability and Resilience of Oilseed Rape Production (UK)

Deadline: 11-Aug-2026

The Advancing the Sustainability and Resilience of Oilseed Rape Production initiative supports UK oilseed rape farmers in adopting regenerative agriculture practices to improve environmental sustainability, farm resilience, and long-term production outcomes. The programme will fund a single organisation or consortium to deliver farmer engagement, agronomic support, training, monitoring systems, and project coordination from 2026 to 2029.

The initiative provides €1,220,000 in total funding and focuses on helping farmers transition towards regenerative farming methods through practical support, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration across the agricultural value chain.

Overview of the Initiative

The Advancing the Sustainability and Resilience of Oilseed Rape Production programme is a co-funded initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices among UK oilseed rape farmers.

The programme is supported by:

• EIT Food.
• Two European Consumer Packaged Goods companies.
• Agricultural and sustainability partners.

The initiative aims to improve the sustainability and resilience of oilseed rape production landscapes by supporting farmers with:

• Regenerative agriculture transition.
• Whole-farm sustainability approaches.
• Technical training.
• Agronomic advice.
• Environmental monitoring.
• Digital reporting systems.
• Long-term capability development.

Programme Duration and Funding

Key programme details include:

• Programme period: September 2026 to September 2029.
• Total available funding: €1,220,000.
• Maximum funding per application: €1,220,000.
• Project duration: Three years.

The programme seeks one capable organisation or consortium of partners to deliver all required activities.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to help UK oilseed rape farmers improve sustainability while maintaining productive and resilient farming systems.

Key objectives include:

• Supporting the transition to regenerative agriculture.
• Improving soil health and environmental outcomes.
• Strengthening farm resilience.
• Increasing farmer access to technical expertise.
• Developing better monitoring and verification systems.
• Building local agricultural advisory capacity.
• Creating stronger links between sustainability practices and investment opportunities.

Focus Areas of the Programme

The initiative covers several interconnected areas of agricultural transformation.

Regenerative Agriculture Transition

The programme will support farmers adopting regenerative practices that improve:

• Soil quality.
• Biodiversity.
• Resource efficiency.
• Climate resilience.
• Long-term farm productivity.

Activities will focus on practical implementation at farm level.

Whole Farm Approach

The programme encourages farmers to consider sustainability across their entire farming system.

Support may include:

• Farm-level sustainability planning.
• Integrated agricultural practices.
• Long-term improvement strategies.
• Resource management approaches.

Farmer Recruitment and Engagement

The selected organisation will be responsible for:

• Identifying participating farmers.
• Recruiting farms into the programme.
• Maintaining farmer engagement.
• Supporting continued participation throughout the project.

Strong farmer relationships will be essential for successful delivery.

Agronomic Training and Advisory Services

The programme will provide technical support through:

• Agronomic training.
• Farmer workshops.
• Advisory visits.
• Practical guidance.
• Farm-specific recommendations.

The goal is to help farmers confidently implement regenerative practices.

Capacity Building for Local Agronomists

The initiative will strengthen local agricultural expertise by supporting:

• Training for agronomists.
• Mentoring programmes.
• Coaching activities.
• Knowledge-sharing with suppliers and advisors.

This will create stronger long-term support networks for farmers.

Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Systems

A major component of the programme involves measuring progress and demonstrating outcomes.

Activities include:

• Establishing baseline measurements.
• Monitoring environmental indicators.
• Tracking agricultural improvements.
• Measuring socio-economic impacts.
• Verifying collected data.
• Developing digital reporting systems.

Environmental and Socio-Economic KPI Tracking

The programme will monitor key performance indicators related to:

Environmental outcomes:

• Soil health improvements.
• Biodiversity benefits.
• Sustainability practices.
• Resource efficiency.

Socio-economic outcomes:

• Farmer participation.
• Skills development.
• Advisory capacity.
• Economic resilience.

Digital Reporting Platforms

The programme requires digital tools to support:

• Data collection.
• Reporting.
• Monitoring progress.
• Decision-making.
• Continuous improvement.

Digital systems should provide reliable information for programme partners and stakeholders.

Project Work Packages

The programme is organised into three main work packages.

Work Package 1: Project Management and Coordination

This work package focuses on overall programme delivery and coordination.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing project activities.
• Coordinating partners and suppliers.
• Defining roles and responsibilities.
• Tracking progress against work plans.
• Monitoring key performance indicators.
• Managing project risks.
• Supporting reporting requirements.
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement.

Additional responsibilities include working with financial institutions to explore how regenerative agriculture practices can be incorporated into:

• Risk assessment frameworks.
• Credit evaluation systems.
• Sustainable investment models.

Work Package 2: Farmer Recruitment, Training and Advisory Services

This work package focuses on direct farmer support.

Activities include:

• Recruiting oilseed rape farmers.
• Providing technical agronomic guidance.
• Delivering training programmes.
• Conducting advisory farm visits.
• Supporting implementation of regenerative practices.
• Building long-term advisory capacity.

The programme will also support mentoring and coaching for:

• Local agronomists.
• Agricultural suppliers.
• Farm advisors.

Work Package 3: Monitoring, Reporting and Verification

This work package ensures that project outcomes are measured accurately.

Responsibilities include:

• Creating baseline assessments.
• Monitoring environmental indicators.
• Tracking agronomic improvements.
• Measuring socio-economic outcomes.
• Ensuring data accuracy.
• Verifying information.
• Developing digital reporting tools.

The collected data will support:

• Programme evaluation.
• Farmer decision-making.
• Continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder reporting.

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is open to organisations with relevant expertise in agricultural sustainability, farmer engagement, and monitoring systems.

Eligible applicants may include:

• MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) providers.
• Agronomic consultancies.
• Agricultural training organisations.
• Sustainability service providers.
• Related organisations with relevant capabilities.

Applicants may apply as:

• A single organisation.
• A consortium of multiple partners.

Applicant Requirements

Eligible applicants must:

• Be legally incorporated in an EU or Horizon Europe eligible country.
• Have been legally established for at least three years.
• Hold a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC).
• Submit a complete application.
• Submit the application before the deadline.
• Prepare the application in English.

Consortium Requirements

Organisations may collaborate through a consortium.

A consortium should demonstrate:

• Clear division of responsibilities.
• Relevant expertise across all work packages.
• Ability to deliver the complete programme.
• Effective project management structures.

The selected consortium or organisation must be capable of delivering the full project scope from 2026 to 2029.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow a structured application process.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should verify:

• Legal registration status.
• Country eligibility.
• PIC number availability.
• Relevant agricultural or sustainability experience.
• Ability to deliver the required work packages.

Step 2: Develop a Delivery Plan

Applications should explain:

• How farmer recruitment will be managed.
• How training will be delivered.
• How advisory support will operate.
• How monitoring systems will function.
• How project risks will be managed.

Step 3: Build a Project Team

Applicants should identify:

• Key personnel.
• Partner organisations.
• Technical specialists.
• Agronomic experts.
• Monitoring and verification specialists.

Step 4: Prepare the Application

Applications should include:

• Project approach.
• Work package delivery plan.
• Timeline.
• Budget information.
• Monitoring framework.
• Expected outcomes.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Applications must:

• Be complete.
• Be submitted on time.
• Be written in English.
• Include all required information.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can improve their proposals by:

• Demonstrating experience with regenerative agriculture.
• Showing strong farmer engagement capabilities.
• Providing evidence of technical expertise.
• Explaining how outcomes will be measured.
• Including reliable data management systems.
• Demonstrating capacity to manage a large multi-year project.
• Clearly assigning responsibilities within a consortium.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying without meeting eligibility requirements.
• Failing to provide a PIC number.
• Submitting incomplete applications.
• Not addressing all three work packages.
• Providing unclear monitoring plans.
• Underestimating farmer engagement requirements.
• Failing to explain data verification methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Advancing the Sustainability and Resilience of Oilseed Rape Production initiative?

It is a three-year programme supporting UK oilseed rape farmers in adopting regenerative agriculture practices through training, advisory services, monitoring systems, and sustainability support.

How much funding is available?

The programme provides total funding of €1,220,000, with the same maximum amount available per application.

Who can apply for the programme?

Eligible applicants include MRV providers, agronomic consultancies, training organisations, sustainability organisations, and related entities with relevant expertise.

Can organisations apply as a consortium?

Yes. Organisations may apply individually or as a consortium, provided they can collectively deliver all required work packages.

What is the project timeline?

The programme will run from September 2026 to September 2029.

What are the main areas of work?

The programme focuses on project coordination, farmer recruitment and training, agronomic advisory services, monitoring and verification, digital reporting, and sustainability measurement.

What is regenerative agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture refers to farming practices designed to improve soil health, biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and long-term agricultural sustainability.

Conclusion

The Advancing the Sustainability and Resilience of Oilseed Rape Production initiative provides significant support for accelerating regenerative agriculture adoption among UK oilseed rape farmers. Through funding for farmer engagement, technical training, monitoring systems, and sustainability measurement, the programme aims to create more resilient and environmentally responsible farming systems.

Eligible organisations with expertise in agriculture, sustainability, training, and monitoring are encouraged to apply with strong delivery plans that demonstrate the ability to support farmers and achieve measurable environmental and socio-economic outcomes.

For more information, visit EIT Food.