Transforming Whole-Farm Systems through Regenerative Agriculture in Extremadura

EIT Food is inviting applications from eligible organisations and consortiums to support the transition of corn and tomato growers in Extremadura, Spain, to regenerative whole-farm agricultural systems. The selected applicant will receive up to €820,000 to deliver project management, farmer training, and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) services from October 2026 to October 2029, helping generate measurable environmental, agronomic, and socio-economic outcomes.

About the EIT Food Regenerative Agriculture Initiative

The EIT Food Regenerative Agriculture Initiative is a multi-year programme designed to accelerate the adoption of regenerative farming practices among corn and tomato growers in Extremadura, Spain. The initiative supports landscape-scale agricultural transformation by combining farmer engagement, technical advisory services, project coordination, and impact measurement.

The programme seeks a single implementing organisation or a complete consortium capable of delivering all project activities throughout the implementation period.

The initiative forms part of EIT Food’s broader mission to create sustainable, climate-resilient, and environmentally responsible food systems across Europe.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to:

Support the transition to regenerative whole-farm agricultural systems.
Improve soil health and environmental sustainability.
Strengthen long-term agricultural productivity.
Promote climate-smart farming practices.
Deliver measurable environmental, agronomic, and socio-economic outcomes.
Improve collaboration among farmers, suppliers, technical experts, and corporate partners.
Build local capacity through training and advisory services.
Develop reliable systems for monitoring project impact.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture is a farming approach that improves soil health, biodiversity, water conservation, and ecosystem resilience while maintaining productive agricultural systems.

Common regenerative farming practices include:

Improving soil organic matter.
Reducing soil disturbance.
Increasing crop diversity.
Improving nutrient management.
Enhancing water retention.
Promoting biodiversity.
Building long-term farm resilience.

Within this initiative, regenerative practices will be implemented across the corn–tomato crop rotation in Extremadura.

Key Project Components

Applicants must deliver all three project work packages.

Project Management and Coordination

The selected organisation will:

Lead overall project implementation.
Coordinate landscape partners and suppliers.
Facilitate collaboration among local stakeholders.
Manage implementation timelines.
Monitor progress against work plans.
Track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Support reporting to EIT Food and corporate partners.
Provide strategic advice on regenerative agriculture transition pathways.
Support incentive design and stakeholder engagement.

Training and Advisory Services

Applicants will provide:

Farmer training programmes.
Agronomic advisory services.
Technical assistance for regenerative farming.
Locally adapted guidance for corn and tomato production.
Capacity building for growers adopting regenerative practices.

The training should help farmers successfully integrate regenerative agriculture into their existing production systems.

Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV)

A major component of the project is the development and operation of a comprehensive Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system.

The MRV framework should:

Measure environmental outcomes.
Monitor agronomic performance.
Assess socio-economic impacts.
Use standardized Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Operate through a digital reporting platform.
Generate reliable evidence of project performance.

Funding Information

The programme offers:

Total available funding: €820,000
Maximum funding per application: €820,000
Funding type: Co-funded initiative
Project duration: October 2026 to October 2029

The award is subject to the successful signing of a collaboration agreement between EIT Food and its corporate co-financing partners.

Project Timeline

Project commencement: October 2026
Project completion: October 2029

The selected organisation or consortium will deliver all agreed activities throughout the full implementation period.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

Legally incorporated organisations.
Complete consortiums.
Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) providers.
Agronomic consultancy firms.
Agricultural advisory organisations.
Training organisations.
Other related entities with relevant expertise.

Applicants do not need an existing partnership agreement with EIT Food.

Eligibility Requirements

Each implementing participant must:

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

Why This Initiative Matters

Agriculture is increasingly affected by climate change, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and resource constraints. Regenerative agriculture provides practical solutions that improve both environmental sustainability and farm productivity.

This initiative supports long-term transformation by combining farmer education, scientific monitoring, stakeholder collaboration, and landscape-scale implementation. The project will generate valuable evidence demonstrating how regenerative farming can improve environmental performance while maintaining productive agricultural systems.

Expected Outcomes

The selected organisation will help achieve:

Increased adoption of regenerative agriculture.
Improved soil health.
Better environmental performance.
Enhanced biodiversity.
Greater climate resilience.
Improved farm productivity.
Stronger collaboration among agricultural stakeholders.
Reliable monitoring of environmental and socio-economic impacts.
Scalable models for landscape-level agricultural transformation.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure that your organisation:

Meets the legal establishment requirements.
Has operated for at least three years.
Possesses a valid PIC number.

Step 2: Build the Required Team

Applicants should ensure they can deliver expertise across:

Project management.
Regenerative agriculture.
Agronomic advisory services.
Farmer training.
Monitoring and evaluation.
Digital reporting.
Stakeholder engagement.

Where necessary, establish a consortium covering all required competencies.

Step 3: Prepare the Proposal

The proposal should clearly explain:

Project implementation strategy.
Team expertise.
Delivery approach.
MRV methodology.
Stakeholder coordination plan.
Risk management.
Expected outcomes.

Step 4: Complete the Application

Applicants must:

Use the official application template.
Prepare all documents in English.
Include all required organisational information.
Submit the completed application before the deadline.

Tips for Applicants

A strong proposal should:

Demonstrate experience in regenerative agriculture.
Show expertise in MRV systems.
Present a practical implementation methodology.
Explain how local stakeholders will be engaged.
Include measurable KPIs.
Demonstrate strong project management capacity.
Provide evidence of previous landscape-scale agricultural projects.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

Submitting incomplete applications.
Missing the submission deadline.
Forgetting to include a valid PIC number.
Proposing only one work package instead of all three.
Failing to explain the MRV methodology.
Using languages other than English.
Providing insufficient evidence of organisational experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the EIT Food Regenerative Agriculture Initiative?

It is a funding programme supporting the transition of corn and tomato growers in Extremadura, Spain, to regenerative whole-farm agricultural systems through coordinated technical support, training, and impact monitoring.

How much funding is available?

The initiative provides up to €820,000 for one selected organisation or consortium.

Who can apply?

Legally incorporated organisations and consortiums established for at least three years in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe eligible country may apply.

Is an existing partnership with EIT Food required?

No. Organisations without a previous partnership agreement with EIT Food are equally eligible.

What services must the selected organisation provide?

The selected applicant must deliver project management and coordination, training and advisory services, and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) services.

What is an MRV system?

Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) is a structured framework used to measure environmental, agronomic, and socio-economic outcomes using standardized indicators and digital reporting systems.

What is the project duration?

The implementation period runs from October 2026 to October 2029.

Conclusion

The EIT Food Regenerative Agriculture Initiative represents a significant opportunity for organisations with expertise in regenerative agriculture, project management, farmer training, and impact monitoring. With funding of up to €820,000, the programme aims to support landscape-scale agricultural transformation in Extremadura by promoting sustainable farming practices, strengthening collaboration across the agricultural value chain, and delivering measurable environmental and socio-economic benefits. Eligible organisations and consortiums with the required technical capacity are encouraged to submit comprehensive proposals that demonstrate their ability to lead this ambitious three-year initiative.