Deadline: 15-Feb-22
The European Commission is calling proposals for EU-China international cooperation on unlocking the potential of agricultural residues and wastes for circular and sustainable bio-based solutions.
Scope
Proposals will:
- Evaluate existing techniques and develop new innovative approaches for the efficient use of agricultural wastes, co-products and by-products, thereby contributing to the creation of sustainable value chains in the farming and processing sectors.
- Address, if applicable, innovative solutions for protein recovery and/or microbial protein production from agricultural wastes/by-products for food and feed applications to meet the demand for new protein-based products at local and global levels.
- Examine the safety and risks of circularised substance flows, particularly the reutilisation of food waste and (animal) by-products, and prevention of the creation of pathogen/toxin enrichment cycles and introduction or reconnection of epidemiological pathways.
- Demonstrate environmentally-friendly and economically viable approaches in sector-specific case studies and test the possible practical take-up of proposed approaches and technologies.
- Examine the synergies/con?icts and interdependencies between the different agri-waste feedstock and develop coherent indicators to evaluate their quantity, quality and sustainability attributes, as well as the costs associated with their production, collection and processing.
- Consider environmental, economic and social safeguards, such as the sustainable extraction rates of residues, with a view to maintaining low emissions, soil health and fertility, as well as possible conflicts with alternative uses.
- Address, if applicable, nutrient and energy recovery and the overall minimisation of environmental impacts in the context of good agricultural practices and possible sanitary implications.
- Improve data collection (e.g. data on residue quantities, residue management and feed requirement) at farm-level, link them with relevant information systems (e.g. the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN)) and improve knowledge on the availability, demand and market prices of agricultural waste and residue streams.
- Develop training material to endow primary producers and workers with the right skillset in order to adapt to the proposed viable approaches.
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 (low value grant).
Expected Outcomes
- In line with the European Green Deal, EU bioeconomy strategy and farm to fork strategy, successful proposals will explore opportunities for the valorisation of waste, by- and co-products. They should contribute to regional, urban and consumer-based transitions towards a sustainable, regenerative, inclusive and just circular economy and bioeconomy across in Europe at local and regional level.
- Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Strengthened international cooperation with actors from China in the areas of agricultural residues and wastes for circular, biosecure and sustainable bio-based solutions
- Establishment of bio-based production systems that are optimised in view of sustainability, circular resource use and economic viability
- Increased resource efficiency through reduction of waste and better waste management practices in primary production systems.
- Increased opportunities for the valorisation of waste, by- and co-products resulting in environmental and economic benefits for the farming sector (e.g. development of new products and processes).
- Improvement in overall environmental performance (soil health, water quality, low-carbon livestock, reduction of emissions, biodiversity, etc.) of bio-based sectors.
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/3E7dcec