Grant program for SMEs in the agricultural products sector

Grant program for SMEs in the agricultural products sector is sponsored by European Union (via AgriAnalytica platform). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Free grants for agricultural startups - EU Funding Portal Grants for agricultural startups, SMEs Grants for agricultural startups and SMEs Open Call for the selection of providers of innovative MRV technologies June 29, 2026; Other EU Programmes ; Agricultural grants , Research grants , Sustainability funding Call for applications to select private technology providers and environmental tech companies capable of delivering innovative solutions to measure and monitor soil health indicators.

The initiative aims to enhance the precision of evaluating regenerative and conservation agricultural practices while fostering strong collaborations between farmers and tech developers.

Selected technologies will be implemented over two agricultural seasons across five distinct Living Labs (LLs): LL1 (Spain & Portugal): Sustainable permanent cropping systems; LL2 (Austria & Switzerland): Regenerative organic farming approaches; LL3 (Germany): Improving soil health to combat climate change; LL4 (Moldova, Romania, & Ukraine): Black soil conservation solutions; LL5 (Slovenia): Conservation agriculture with crop-livestock integration.

Funded activities include developing and installing equipment to track critical indicators like water retention, organic matter, and microbial biodiversity. Providers are also responsible for training farmers, analyzing data, and actively collaborating with local stakeholders to refine their systems under real-world conditions.

To ensure data across all regions remains comparable, technology providers must meet strict interoperability requirements, follow standardized data collection protocols, and participate in cross-laboratory calibration exercises.

Call for proposals to support innovation projects in the field of electronic components and systems Call for proposals for industry-driven, technically innovative, and application-oriented projects within the field of electronic components and systems. The primary objective of this call is to extend the state-of-the-art and enable new civilian applications across diverse areas.

To be eligible for funding, project proposals must represent international cooperation through a well-balanced consortium. This consortium must include at least two independent legal entities from two different Eureka countries—though involving partners from three or more countries is highly recommended—and must cover an essential section of the complete electronic components and systems value chain.

Additionally, projects should involve approximately 35 person-years of effort and focus on researching or developing an innovative product, process, or service.

Projects can be submitted across any of the core focus areas defined by the 2026 ECS-SRIA, which are divided into three pillars: Foundational Technology Layers: Process technology, equipment, materials, manufacturing, component integration, embedded software, and systems of systems; Cross-Sectional Technologies: Edge computing, embedded AI, connectivity, architecture and design tools, quality, reliability, safety, and cybersecurity; ECS Key Application Areas: Mobility, energy, digital industry, health and wellbeing, agrifood and natural resources, and the digital society.

Call for applications to financially de-risk the commercial activities of agrifood startups, enabling impactful technologies, products, and services to reach the market and scale further in the food sector Call for proposals for a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Co-Financing Instrument, which offers grants of up to EUR 60,000 to financially de-risk small-scale pilot projects between agrifood startups and industry leaders.

To be eligible, proposals must be submitted by a single micro- or small-sized company that has been legally incorporated in an EU or Horizon Europe eligible country for at least 12 months, possesses a valid PIC number, and offers a solution aligned with one of the three Food Missions. Additionally, the applicant must partner with a specific corporate client counterpart that has a minimum annual turnover of EUR 1 billion.

The funding is intended for projects lasting up to 12 months—starting from September 2026—and must focus strictly on delivering commercial validation activities such as sample creation, field trials, or functionality tests to pave a clear pathway toward long-term commercial success.

Call for proposals to support innovative solutions in sustainable agriculture and circular bio-economy through the AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB, offering grants and advisory services to SMEs in Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine May 26, 2026; Other EU Programmes ; Agricultural grants , Bioeconomy , Sustainability funding Call for proposals to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing innovative solutions in sustainable agriculture and circular bio-economy.

Operating within Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine, this initiative aims to strengthen regional research and innovation ecosystems by leveraging a quadruple-helix model that connects academia, business, government, and society.

The open call features a total funding pool of EUR 600,000 and will select twelve SMEs to address prevailing market and technical challenges across seven distinct categories, which include soil health, water-smart farming, and circular nutrients. Selected projects will receive a lump-sum grant of up to EUR 50,000 alongside dedicated technical, business, and innovation advisory services to assist with project implementation.

To ensure a fair and transparent selection process, all applications will be reviewed by a diverse pool of regional experts before final selections are confirmed in a consensus meeting.

Call for applications to recognize innovative solutions that promote sustainability and efficiency across sectors May 19, 2026; Non-EU / Global / International Grants ; Agricultural grants , Architecture grants , Awards , Energy Grants , Food grants , Mobility / Transportation Grants This award recognizes five winning pairs of cleantech solution providers and their clients across five sectors: Agrifood & Natural Environment, Building & Construction, Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods, Mobility, and Utilities.

Open to global applicants who have successfully implemented innovations, the program invites winners to present at the Pioneers Forum in November 2026 and receive extensive media exposure, press features, and enhanced industry credibility. The awards celebrate replicable use cases that improve sustainability and efficiency across industrial processes, infrastructure, and resource management.

Call for applications to honor women in agriculture who demonstrate passion, expertise, and innovation in farming, agribusiness, education, technology, and research May 18, 2026; Non-EU / Global / International Grants ; Agricultural grants , Awards Call for applications to receive agricultural awards, which celebrate women worldwide who are transforming the future of agriculture through passion, expertise, and innovation.

The international call is open to female professionals across various sectors, including farming, agribusiness, education, agricultural machinery, research, journalism, and digital media. Nominees will be recognized across four core categories: Farming, Agribusiness, Education, and Technology & Research.

The winners will be honored at the EuroTier trade fair in Hanover, Germany, highlighting the vital role of women in the global agricultural community.

Call for proposals to support farmers in implementing regenerative and conservation agriculture practices to improve soil health, enhance farm resilience, and contribute to sustainable farming practices May 13, 2026; Other EU Programmes ; Agricultural grants , Innovation grants , Sustainability funding Call for proposals inviting farmers to offer their land as experimentation sites for testing Regenerative and Conservation Agriculture Practices (ReCAP).

With a total budget of EUR 735,000, this initiative aims to improve soil health and landscape resilience by fostering a European network of “Living Labs” where practical, innovative farming solutions can be validated in real-world conditions.

Applications are open to farmers who are legally entitled to manage land in specific participating countries, including Spain, Portugal, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, Moldova, Romania, or Ukraine.

To qualify, a farm must: Dedicate at least one hectare of land to the implementation of agreed ReCAP practices; Operate within the geographic scope of one of the five thematic Living Labs, which range from permanent cropping in Mediterranean climates to crop-livestock integration in Slovenia and black soil conservation in Eastern Europe; Demonstrate technical feasibility and a strong commitment to data collection and knowledge exchange.

Successful applicants can receive a lump sum of €5,000 per season for up to three cropping seasons, totaling a maximum of €15,000. Farmers designated as “lighthouse sites”—those chosen to demonstrate exemplary practices to peers—are eligible for an additional €5,000 in support. These funds are intended to cover the costs of implementing new practices, participating in collective workshops, and collaborating on monitoring activities.

Call for proposals to enhance and scale a 3D digital learning platform focused on regenerative agriculture Call for proposals aimed at scaling an existing 3D digital learning platform focused on regenerative agriculture. This initiative seeks legally established entities with expertise in immersive technologies, digital learning, and the agrifood sector to enhance the Future Farm Lab ecosystem.

The project is scheduled to run from July 2026 through December 2028, with a total available funding pool of EUR 370,000.

The selected participants will be responsible for the technical and pedagogical expansion of the platform, specifically focusing on: Content Development: Creating high-quality modules on topics such as soil health, biodiversity, and water resilience; Immersive Learning: Designing systems-based simulations and “micromissions” to provide experiential training; Integration: Embedding the platform into vocational, higher education, and professional upskilling programs across the food industry; Technical Upgrades: Improving SaaS infrastructure, user onboarding processes, and analytics-driven optimization.

Throughout the 36-month duration, grant recipients must provide a series of structured outputs, including a Communication and Outreach Plan by Month 3 and the initial release of enhanced 3D modules by Month 12. The project concludes with a final impact report in late 2028, documenting the achievement of key performance indicators and the successful validation of Proof-of-Concept pilot implementations.

Call for applications to recognize and support women making a lasting impact in agriculture through innovative ideas and approaches May 07, 2026; Non-EU / Global / International Grants ; Agricultural grants , Awards Call for proposals to boost agrobiodiversity for food security and sustainable competitiveness through research and innovation actions Call for proposals to quantify the benefits of agrobiodiversity, including the role of soil microorganisms, at the farm and parcel level.

With a total budget of EUR 12. 00 million, the initiative aims to fund two projects—each receiving approximately EUR 6. 00 million—to demonstrate how species abundance and composition impact yield stability, nutritional quality, and resilience to pests.

This research supports the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Nature Restoration Regulation by addressing the socio-economic barriers that prevent farmers from adopting more diversified production systems.

Selected projects are expected to bridge the gap between biodiversity conservation and agricultural profitability through several key actions: Economic Quantification: Measuring the direct contribution of agrobiodiversity to food security and farm income, specifically focusing on nutrient cycling and resilience against environmental stresses; Risk Management Tools: Developing decision-support tools that analyze the risks of diversification—such as yield fluctuations and marketability—to help farmers and breeders manage the transition to non-conventional crops and local breeds; Financial Incentives: Testing private finance instruments, such as nature credits, to reward land managers for enhancing biodiversity and creating new income streams; Value Chain Valorization: Exploring pathways for processing, storing, and marketing diverse raw materials to strengthen the position of farmers within the food supply chain.

Call for proposals to develop managed aquifer recharge techniques in rural contexts to enhance water resilience for farmers and ecosystems Call for proposals to enhance and customize Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) techniques across various European agricultural landscapes.

With a total funding pool of EUR 12 million, the initiative aims to provide projects with approximately EUR 6 million each to develop water storage solutions that balance supply and demand while reducing the environmental footprint of food systems. These actions are designed to strengthen the climate resilience of EU agriculture in response to the increasing frequency and magnitude of droughts.

Selected projects will focus on expanding MAR techniques at the farm, basin, and catchment levels through several key actions: Technical Customization: Improving MAR methods to fit representative EU agricultural contexts and developing methodologies to identify the most suitable locations for implementation; Impact Monitoring: Creating user-friendly Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems to track the quality and quantity of groundwater, as well as the health of dependent ecosystems; Economic Modeling: Calculating cost-benefit ratios and proposing business models—such as water credits or payment schemes—to compensate farmers and land managers for hosting MAR initiatives; and Governance and Demonstration: Validating these models through at least two case studies in different pedoclimatic zones and providing governance frameworks tailored to local regulatory and socio-economic conditions.

Call for proposals to support innovative projects enhancing the valorisation of agri-food biomass April 01, 2026; Other EU Programmes ; Agricultural grants , Food grants , Innovation grants , Sustainability funding Call for proposals for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support the green and digital twin transitions within the European agri-food sector.

This initiative provides financial backing for innovative projects that increase the valorisation of agri-food biomass and side-streams, directly contributing to more sustainable and resilient ecosystems. Projects must focus on developing, adopting, and commercialising upcycled ingredients for food or non-food applications, as well as advancing related technologies and business processes.

Every proposal must lead to the concrete implementation of a new process, a new product, a new service, or a combination of these elements. The Call has made a total funding pool of €2,020,000 available for this call.

Financial support is awarded as a lump-sum grant and varies based on the structure of the application: Single SME Projects up to €60,000 per project; Collaborative Projects: (Consortium of 2 to 3 SMEs): up to €90,000 per project.

Call for proposals to support research and innovation in organic farming, focusing on enhancing sustainability and competitiveness Call for proposals designed to fill remaining research and innovation (R&I) gaps in the European organic sector. With a total budget of EUR 12. 00 million, the initiative provides grants of approximately EUR 6.

00 million to develop safe, cost-effective innovations that address agronomic, market, and value chain challenges. This call is a core component of the EU Action Plan on the Development of Organic Production, aiming to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of both crop and livestock systems.

Successful proposals must go beyond theoretical research by establishing physical sites across diverse pedo-climatic conditions to co-create, test, and upscale innovations. A primary focus is on making organic farming more attractive and predictable for farmers while delivering essential ecosystem services.

Key requirements include: Multi-Actor Approach: Projects must involve a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, advisors, and agri-food operators, ensuring a gender-sensitive and inclusive framework; Network Integration: Proposals should build a network connecting test sites to facilitate the exchange of best practices between organic farmers and those using other agricultural methods; and Value Chain Development: Solutions should address market-related barriers, potentially utilizing financial support to third parties (FSTP) to help actors validate and deploy new innovations.

Call for proposals to enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector by promoting efficient and sustainable agricultural practices Call for proposals to reverse the slowing growth of total factor productivity (TFP) in EU agriculture compared to global competitors. With a total budget of EUR 13. 50 million, the initiative aims to fund projects (approximately EUR 4.

50 million each) that develop and test innovative farming practices and prototypes in large-scale operational environments. These solutions must improve the efficient use of production factors—such as land, labor, and capital—while ensuring they are sustainable and biodiversity-friendly.

Successful proposals are expected to move beyond theoretical research by providing tangible prototypes and cost-effective business models ready for the European market.

Key requirements include: Large-Scale Testing: Moving innovations into real-world farming environments to validate their effectiveness and scalability; Impact Assessment: Rigorously evaluating the environmental, social, and economic impacts of new practices to ensure they support the “green transition.

; and Overcoming Barriers: Identifying specific obstacles to technology adoption and proposing clear strategies for training, communication, and large-scale deployment. Call for proposals to support the establishment of living labs for ecosystem restoration Call for proposals to establish three living labs dedicated to testing and demonstrating innovative ecosystem restoration solutions. With a total budget of EUR 14.

00 million, the initiative aims to fund projects that manage 10 to 20 experimental sites each, focusing on diverse landscapes such as transitional interfaces, urban-rural gradients, and mosaic agricultural landscapes. These living labs are designed to empower stakeholders and authorities in implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Proposals must adopt a multi-actor approach, ensuring that solutions are co-created in real-life settings with end-users, land managers, and researchers.

Projects are expected to: Develop transdisciplinary work plans for locally adapted restoration; Monitor progress using established EU environmental indicators and directives; Create viable business models, including nature credits or payment schemes for ecosystem services; and Address the scaling and transferability of solutions through a gender-sensitive and inclusive lens.

Call for proposals to support research and innovation actions focused on establishing living labs to enhance soil health in forests and natural lands Call for proposals to establish four to five “living labs” focused on improving soil health across Europe. With a total budget of EUR 24.

00 million, this initiative aims to expand the existing network of 100 living labs and lighthouses by 2030, specifically targeting managed forests or natural/semi-natural lands. The project seeks to address soil health challenges through a multi-actor, participatory approach that involves researchers, landowners, and local authorities.

Selected projects will: develop and implement locally adapted practices and tools to enhance soil resilience and biodiversity; establish baselines and use standardized indicators to track improvements in soil functions and ecosystem services; identify and promote exemplary sites (lighthouses) that serve as hubs for demonstration, training, and communication; and formulate long-term financial and organizational strategies to maintain these labs beyond the initial Horizon Europe funding.

Individual grants are expected to be around EUR 12. 00 million, supporting projects that typically run for four years to accommodate the long-term nature of soil processes. By integrating social sciences and collaborating with the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO), these living labs will provide policymakers with data-driven insights and provide land managers with practical, economically viable solutions.

Ultimately, the initiative supports the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 by leading the transition toward healthy, carbon-sequestering soils.

Call for proposals to support research and innovation actions focused on establishing living labs focused on enhancing soil health in Alpine and Atlantic regions Call for proposals to establish four to five new “living labs” dedicated to improving soil health within either the Alpine or Atlantic biogeographical regions. With a total funding pool of EUR 24.

00 million, this initiative aims to create long-term, multi-actor collaborations across at least three Member States or Associated Countries to co-design and implement locally adapted soil solutions.

Projects are expected to run for approximately four years, focusing on diverse land uses such as agricultural, urban, and industrial areas, while excluding projects solely dedicated to forest or natural lands which are covered under a separate call. The core of this mission is the “living lab” model—real-life sites where researchers, landowners, and local citizens work together to address regional soil challenges.

Key requirements for applicants include: Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Proposals must adopt a multi-actor approach, integrating social sciences and humanities to drive behavioral change and knowledge transfer; Evidence-Based Monitoring: Each lab must establish a baseline of soil conditions and use standardized indicators to monitor improvements in soil health and ecosystem services; Scalability and Sustainability: Projects must demonstrate the economic and technical viability of their solutions and provide a clear strategy for long-term sustainability beyond the initial grant period; Lighthouse Integration: High-performing sites should be identified as “lighthouses” to serve as exemplary hubs for demonstration, training, and public communication.

Call for proposals to enhance understanding of antimicrobial resistance development in soils, its drivers, and its impact on human and animal health Call for proposals to support research into the role of soil as both a source of life-saving antibiotics and a potential hotspot for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Recognizing that AMR is one of the greatest global threats to public health, this call seeks to understand how land use and human activities influence the development and transfer of resistance genes between the environment, animals, and humans.

Successful proposals must employ a One-Health approach, integrating life, environmental, health, and veterinary sciences to address the following: AMR Dynamics: Exploring the sources and mechanisms of antibiotic biosynthesis and resistance development across diverse land use types and management practices; Pathway Analysis: Investigating how antimicrobial resistance genes are transferred among organisms and how soils contribute to the exposure of humans and livestock; Database Expansion: Building comprehensive databases of antibiotic-related genes and identifying potential antibiotic alternatives derived from soil microorganisms; and Policy and Guidance: Developing concrete, evidence-based guidelines for policymakers and land managers to mitigate AMR risks and facilitate the discovery of new pharmaceutical molecules.

With individual grants expected to be around €7. 00 million, the project results should provide stakeholders with the tools and knowledge necessary to reduce the environmental spread of resistance while unlocking the pharmaceutical potential of soil ecosystems.

Call for proposals to develop AI-ready decision support systems for sustainable soil management Call for proposals to standardize the collection and integration of data from Long-Term Field Experiments (LTEs).

Recognizing that these experiments—which monitor soil and crop properties for 20 years or more—are critical research infrastructures, the call seeks to overcome current limitations regarding data fragmentation and inconsistent reporting methods across the EU and Associated Countries. The primary goal is to design and implement harmonized protocols that ensure soil data is consistent and comparable regardless of its region of origin.

Key activities include: Network Building: Establishing a network of at least 50 LTEs across representative pedo-climatic regions to validate new data infrastructures; Data Integration: Developing frameworks to merge LTE data with other sources, such as Mission Soil outputs, into comprehensive, interoperable databases; AI and Machine Learning: Creating AI-driven tools and open-source modular components to analyze complex datasets, identify patterns, and generate predictive models for soil health; Stakeholder Access: Developing user-friendly, open-access platforms that allow researchers, advisors, and land managers to utilize high-resolution soil information for real-time assessments.

The project must adopt a multi-actor approach, involving farmers, scientists, and public authorities throughout its development. Consortia must include at least one independent legal entity from an EU Member State and two from different Member States or Associated Countries; participation from African organizations is also encouraged to foster international synergy.

To drive innovation, beneficiaries may use Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) to incentivize the creation of AI-powered applications that provide tailored advice to small-scale producers. Award range: around EUR 9. 00 million.

Call for proposals to support coordination and support actions in order to strengthen research and innovation ecosystems in Ukraine, improve soil health, and support the EU’s Soil Deal for Europe Mission Call for proposals with a budget of €5. 00 million to revitalize Ukraine’s research and innovation (R&I) ecosystems, specifically targeting the severe soil degradation caused by military actions and nutrient mismanagement.

This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice by fostering interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to restore soil health. Proposals must focus on rebuilding capacity and transferring knowledge to address mechanical, chemical, and physical soil damage.

Key requirements include: Stakeholder Mapping: Identifying essential actors across research, agriculture, and government, alongside existing EU initiatives; Gap Analysis: Analyzing current challenges in the R&I landscape, particularly regarding skills needed for place-based soil restoration; Capacity Building: Implementing a strategy for skills development through workshops, twinnings, and field trips, while establishing regional knowledge hubs for long-term collaboration; and Strategic Recommendations: Providing actionable advice on sustainable management practices and innovative technologies to help policymakers design resilient farming systems.

This project aims to align Ukraine’s recovery with the European Green Deal and the EU Soil Strategy for 2030. By increasing the uptake of practice-oriented knowledge among land managers and deepening policymakers’ awareness of local soil constraints, the initiative supports Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction and the restoration of vital ecosystem services.

Call for applications to support joint demonstrations of solutions that build soil resilience to extreme weather and enhance food security Call for proposals to develop and demonstrate solutions that enhance soil resilience against extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. With a total budget of €20 million, the commission intends to fund large-scale projects with an average award of €10 million.

These initiatives must utilize a “systems-thinking” approach, integrating agroecology and nature-based solutions to protect soil health and ensure long-term food security across different European regions. the core objective is to develop a transdisciplinary framework to scale up nature-based solutions and assess soil ecosystem services.

Biodiversity-focused, carbon-funded forest accelerator programme October 30, 2023; Non-EU / Global / International Grants ; Accelerator programs , Agricultural grants , Business development / Entrepreneurship , Environmental / Climate grants This biodiversity-focused, carbon-funded forest accelerator programme is helping forest restoration teams around the globe through their most critical challenges.

Program components: funding, training seeds, tracking, expert support, carbon market verification.