Deadline: 06-Oct-21
The European Commission (EC) is offering grants for Developing sustainable and competitive land-based protein crop systems and value chains.
Proposals should build on and expand existing knowledge in order to identify the most suitable transition paths for sustainable land-based protein crop production in different pedo-climatic regions, and to develop strategies for sustainable and competitive regional protein-based crop systems and agri-food and feed chains.
Proposals should cover the diversity of available and novel land-based protein crop species with a crude protein content of more than 15%, and consider conventional, agroecological and organic farming systems in all European climate/biogeographical regions.
Proposals must implement the ‘multi-actor approach’ and should ensure adequate involvement of farmers and all relevant actors in the value chain for land-based protein crops.
Proposals should identify the most suitable transition paths for the development of sustainable new and existing land-based protein crop farming systems and agri-food and feed chains across the EU and Associated Countries.
Proposals should explore the potential for value chain development, taking into consideration opportunities, constraints and impact of different tools, instruments and policies, on different value chain actors, using case studies of existing farms, networks of farms and producer organisations.
Proposals should develop and test strategies for sustainable and competitive local and regional land-based protein crop systems that result in improved production techniques, cropping system design that promote crop diversification, feed efficiency, value chain development, reduced environmental impact and improved farmers’ organisation, taking into account complementarity across regions and addressing regional imbalances.
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Identification of the most suitable regional and local transition paths for stimulating sustainable, resilient and economically viable land-based protein crop production for food and feed in the EU and Associated Countries, resulting in increased commercial production of such crops and enhanced food security in the context of protein requirements in the EU and Associated Countries;
- Improved, robust evidence of the social, economic, environmental, climate and health benefits and costs of increasing land-based protein crops production;
- Improved capacities of farmers to cultivate land-based protein crops through innovative advisory tools, improved and wider exchange of knowledge and best practice, adoption of sustainable crop rotation practices and collaboration with other actors in the value chain;
- Stronger innovation ecosystem for land-based protein crop development in Europe through multi-stakeholder and transdisciplinary intra-regional, trans-regional and trans-national collaboration and networking.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
- eligible non-EU countries:
- countries associated to Horizon Europe;
- low- and middle-income countries.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3xi6krf