European Union26 days leftNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing
Horizon European Innovation Council Pathfinder Challenges
Funding Amount
€500K - €4.0M
Deadline
29/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing Call?
Grant Description
This challenge supports projects addressing soil degradation and climate stresses in agriculture by developing novel, resource-efficient processes for climate-resilient crops and high-value plant ingredients. Funded activities include multi-omics research, advanced technologies (e.g. nano, AI), methodology development for stress tolerance and nutritional assessment, targeting validation of breakthrough solutions at laboratory scale (TRL 4) to maintain biodiversity and healthy diets.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects will:
• Deliver climate-smart crops and high-value plant ingredients using novel, low-emission, energy-efficient production methods
• Demonstrate at TRL 4 viable plant lines with enhanced yield, resource use efficiency, multi-stress resilience and/or improved nutritional profile
• Provide standardized methodologies for assessing growth, yield, resilience and nutrient content changes
• Advance multi-omics and AI-driven toolsets applicable across diverse crops and stress scenarios
• Foster a coherent project portfolio with synergies in stress factors, technologies, ingredient types and geographic crop coverage
• Contribute to EU policy goals: EU Green Deal, Farm to Fork, Nature Restoration Law, Fit for 55, REPowerEU, Mission Soil
• Improve sustainability, biodiversity and resilience of the European food supply chain
• Reduce EU dependence on imports of primary production inputs, feed and food
• Enhance long-term competitiveness of the EU agri-food sector
• Participate in joint monitoring, prediction and life-cycle analysis activities to support future climate adaptation strategies
• Deliver climate-smart crops and high-value plant ingredients using novel, low-emission, energy-efficient production methods
• Demonstrate at TRL 4 viable plant lines with enhanced yield, resource use efficiency, multi-stress resilience and/or improved nutritional profile
• Provide standardized methodologies for assessing growth, yield, resilience and nutrient content changes
• Advance multi-omics and AI-driven toolsets applicable across diverse crops and stress scenarios
• Foster a coherent project portfolio with synergies in stress factors, technologies, ingredient types and geographic crop coverage
• Contribute to EU policy goals: EU Green Deal, Farm to Fork, Nature Restoration Law, Fit for 55, REPowerEU, Mission Soil
• Improve sustainability, biodiversity and resilience of the European food supply chain
• Reduce EU dependence on imports of primary production inputs, feed and food
• Enhance long-term competitiveness of the EU agri-food sector
• Participate in joint monitoring, prediction and life-cycle analysis activities to support future climate adaptation strategies
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must:
• Go beyond incremental improvements and deliver breakthrough production processes
• Target both: 1) enhanced growth, yield and multi-stress resistance, 2) substantially increased nutrient content via native or non-native plant compounds
• Reach Technology Readiness Level 4 by project end, with viable plant material demonstrated in lab environment
• Cover at least two abiotic stresses in combination and/or indirect biotic stresses
• Quantify improvements via validated methodologies for growth, yield, resilience and nutritional change
• Integrate multi-omics data and advanced analytics (AI, nanoparticle tech, chemistry) to shorten development timelines
• Propose strategies to broaden genetic diversity in targeted crop(s)
• Include a regulatory roadmap aligned with EFSA frameworks where relevant
• Participate in joint activities for climate adaptation assessment, monitoring and life-cycle analysis
• Go beyond incremental improvements and deliver breakthrough production processes
• Target both: 1) enhanced growth, yield and multi-stress resistance, 2) substantially increased nutrient content via native or non-native plant compounds
• Reach Technology Readiness Level 4 by project end, with viable plant material demonstrated in lab environment
• Cover at least two abiotic stresses in combination and/or indirect biotic stresses
• Quantify improvements via validated methodologies for growth, yield, resilience and nutritional change
• Integrate multi-omics data and advanced analytics (AI, nanoparticle tech, chemistry) to shorten development timelines
• Propose strategies to broaden genetic diversity in targeted crop(s)
• Include a regulatory roadmap aligned with EFSA frameworks where relevant
• Participate in joint activities for climate adaptation assessment, monitoring and life-cycle analysis
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
Applicants must comply with:
• Grant type: Horizon Europe Lump Sum Grant (HORIZON-AG-LS), single-stage model
• Submission window: opens 24 July 2025; deadline 29 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time
• Total call budget: €120 million; individual grant size: €0.5–4 million
• Consortia rules:
• Single legal entities or consortia established in Horizon Europe Member/Associated States
• Two-entity consortia: independent entities from two different countries
• Three+ entity consortia: at least one in an EU Member State plus two in different Member or Associated States
• Single-entity proposals: SMEs or research organisations only (no mid-caps or larger firms)
• Page limit: Part B (Sections 1–3) max 30 A4 pages; excess pages disregarded
• Restriction: proposals involving evolution of European communication networks (5G, post-5G, etc.) subject to additional protections (Annex II, Section B1)
• Must meet general eligibility, exclusion and financial capacity criteria in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2025
• Grant type: Horizon Europe Lump Sum Grant (HORIZON-AG-LS), single-stage model
• Submission window: opens 24 July 2025; deadline 29 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time
• Total call budget: €120 million; individual grant size: €0.5–4 million
• Consortia rules:
• Single legal entities or consortia established in Horizon Europe Member/Associated States
• Two-entity consortia: independent entities from two different countries
• Three+ entity consortia: at least one in an EU Member State plus two in different Member or Associated States
• Single-entity proposals: SMEs or research organisations only (no mid-caps or larger firms)
• Page limit: Part B (Sections 1–3) max 30 A4 pages; excess pages disregarded
• Restriction: proposals involving evolution of European communication networks (5G, post-5G, etc.) subject to additional protections (Annex II, Section B1)
• Must meet general eligibility, exclusion and financial capacity criteria in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2025
Important dates
Open from: 24/07/2025
Deadline:29/10/2025
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