Strengthening plant health: addressing emerging plant pest risks

Overview

Funding for research and innovation projects addressing emerging plant pests that threaten EU agriculture and forestry, focusing on prevention, detection, and sustainable management solutions. Targets consortia with multi-actor collaboration to deliver practical tools and strategies for farmers and forest owners.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities (e.g., research institutions, universities, SMEs, public bodies, industry) from eligible EU Member States and Associated Countries. Proposals must include a range of actors such as plant health services, farming/forestry sectors, and advisory services. International cooperation with affected or threatened countries is encouraged.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: €6,000,000 per project.
• Funding rate: Not specified (standard Horizon Europe rules apply).
• Financial support to third parties (FSTP) allowed as grants, with a maximum of €60,000 per third party.
• Eligible costs are reimbursed via lump sum contributions.

What Is Funded

• Research to improve understanding of pest biology, introduction pathways, and spread mechanisms.
• Development of rapid, safe, and cost-effective tools for early detection, surveillance, treatment, and (bio)control measures, including agro-ecological or forestry management practices.
• Assessment of socio-economic and environmental impacts of pest establishment and strategies for mitigation.
• Identification of resistant or tolerant plant traits.
• Activities must align with EU policies, including the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, the EU Action Plan for Organic Production, and Regulation 2016/2031.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

• No explicit TRL range specified, but projects must deliver validated, practical solutions for pest management.
• Proposals should exclude pests already targeted in Horizon Europe topics HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-02-02-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2027-02-03
• Deadline: 2027-04-07

Application Process (High-Level)

• Two-stage process:

1. First stage: Blind evaluation (applicants must not disclose organisation names, acronyms, logos, or personnel names in the abstract or Part B). 2. Second stage: Full proposal submission for shortlisted applicants.

• Submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Post-Award Obligations

• Reporting requirements as per Horizon Europe standard rules.
• Dissemination of results to stakeholders, including farmers, forest owners, and policy makers.
• Implementation of the multi-actor approach throughout the project lifecycle.

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: EU Member States and Associated Countries (see Horizon Europe Work Programme Annex B for full list).
• Application language: English.

Notes

• Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach, ensuring collaboration across research, plant health services, farming/forestry sectors, and industry.
• Projects should consider gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches where relevant.
• The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a consortium member with zero funding or as an associated partner.