Joint demonstration of solutions to build soil resilience to extreme weather events and support food security

Overview

Supports the development, testing, and demonstration of solutions to enhance soil resilience against extreme weather events, ensuring food security and sustainable land management. Targets regional and local authorities, research institutions, and agricultural stakeholders across Europe.

Who Can Apply

Consortia involving regional or local authorities, research organizations, agricultural stakeholders, and other relevant actors. Proposals must include at least three demonstration sites in different EU Member States or Associated Countries and identify three additional "replicating" regions for knowledge transfer.

Funding Details

Maximum grant amount: 10,000,000 EUR.

What Is Funded

• Development and demonstration of agroecological and nature-based solutions to improve soil resilience to extreme weather (e.g., droughts, floods, heatwaves).
• Integrated frameworks for scaling solutions, including governance, business models, and stakeholder engagement.
• Methodologies to assess the impact of extreme weather on soil ecosystem services (e.g., water retention, quality).
• Dissemination of best practices to local authorities, land managers, and practitioners.
• Collaboration with the EU Soil Observatory and SoilWise project for open access and interoperability of outputs.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Activities must achieve Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7–9 by the end of the project. Proposals may start at any TRL.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-02-03
• Deadline: 2026-09-22

Application Process (High-Level)

Single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals must adhere to page limits and formatting guidelines outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Geographic Scope & Language

Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland. Application language: English.

Notes

• Proposals must apply a multi-actor approach, involving diverse stakeholders (e.g., farmers, policymakers, researchers) throughout the project lifecycle.
• Demonstration activities must take place in at least three regions/local authorities across different Member States or Associated Countries.
• Projects must establish operational links with the Mission Adaptation’s Implementation Platform and participate in the Adaptation Mission Community of Practice.
• Co-funding or additional financial commitments may be required for replication activities in "replicating" regions.