Stimulating Agriculture for Youth Employment (SAYE) project

Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity is sponsored by Mastercard Foundation. This seven-year, US$126 million fund aims to catalyze, scale-up, and sustain the creation of dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for young women and men with limited financial means, including young people with disabilities and refugee youth, through Small and Medium-siz…

SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Successful proposals will contribute to the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy, Farm to Fork Strategy, the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, in particular the objectives: ‘Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration’, the European Chemical Industry Action Plan as well as the Clean Industrial Deal. Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes: Full industrial scale biorefinery and related value chain(s) for the sustainable production of bio-based fertilisers and/or crop protection solutions. Increased availability of cost-competitive and SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products with suitable agronomic efficacy. Reduced reliance on synthetic/mineral agricultural chemical products. Increased EU strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness through a robust cooperation among bio-based industries and farmers. Increased soil health, including minimising accumulation of microplastics and pollutants in soil and water, with positive effects on quality, security and resilience of food production in agriculture. Scope: FAO estimates that up to 40% of food crops are lost due to plant pests and diseases globally every year. [1] Chemical synthetic products are conventionally used to protect crops and other plants from pests and diseases. In parallel, the EU is largely dependent on imports of both mineral and chemical fertilisers to grow crops. In both cases, over-use of synthetic/mineral products also poses concern for soil health and food quality. Moreover, the unequal distribution and depletion of non-renewable sources risks disrupting supply chains, particularly during energy crises. SSbD bio-based fertilising and crop protection products can offer more resilient and sustainable solutions creating an added-value partnership between agriculture and industry both upstream (for feedstock supply) and downstream (for the use of sustainable and efficient bio-based products). However, when scaling-up, challenges need to be solved in terms of process efficiency and robustness against feedstock variability, formulations stability and efficacy on the field (also in consideration of climate change effects and different soil conditions), and cost competitiveness. Proposals under this topic should: Demonstrate (at TRL 8) the efficient industrial production of SSbD bio-based solutions as alternatives to current fertilising and/or crop protection products. Bioactive molecules and/or biotechnology solutions for bio-fertilisers, bio-stimulants and/or pest/disease control (e.g., bioherbicides, biopesticides, bioinsecticides), or a combination thereof, are in scope. Products in scope can be applicable at any crop(s) cycle stage. Validate (at TRL 6 and above) at scale the produced bio-alternatives into the formulation of end-product(s) and test their agronomic efficiency, safety and sustainability to prove the achievement of similar or improved properties compared to defined benchmarks available in the market (synthetic and/or mineral). In case of bio-based fertilisers, put in place a solid production validation procedure to ensure reduced nutrient variability of the N/P/K content in end-products. Test the developed product(s) with primary producers on the field (demo farms) for selected crops and monitor their effects on soil health and quality, as well as on water. Cover different climatic and soil conditions, taking into account different farming systems, including organic agriculture. If controlled release mechanisms are employed, the proposed innovations should avoid microplastics accumulation in soil. In addition to the specific requirements applicable for the type of action, as described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 [2] , proposals under this topic should: As part of the multi-actor approach (MAA), ensure adequate involvement of all key actors in the value chains relevant for this topic and across the sustainable cir Programme areas: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy, Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Keywords: Agricultural biotechnology, Agriculture related to crop production, soil biology and cultivation, applied plant biology, Agronomy, Fertilisation, agricultural biotechnology, bio-based crop protection solutions, bio-based fertilisers, bioactive molecules, biorefineries, farming systems, safe and sustainable by design, STEP-Biotech

Demonstrating and deploying innovative collection, sorting-for-reuse and repair systems for textiles at city/region level (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative topic) is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: local/regional authorities and their operators adopt optimised collection and sorting systems of municipal waste that prioritise textile reuse and repair; social economy entities and society at large benefit from favourable conditions for reuse and repair practices which enable product lifetime prolongation and stimulate second-hand markets; citizens have access to better information, leading to greater awareness and public acceptance, and stimulating behavioural change towards sustainable consumption; innovative circular textile methodologies, practices and solutions are made available to enable large-scale replication and upscaling in European cities and regions; businesses are stimulated to advance repair strategies and circular business models while creating new jobs. Scope: This topic supports the implementation of the European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). It is part of a series of CCRI-related topics funded under Horizon Europe with the aim of accelerating place-based innovation, boosting skills and capacities as well as supporting the implementation of solutions for a circular systemic transition at city/region level. The implementation of circular systemic solutions reduces environmental impacts and contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, by decreasing the extraction of primary raw materials and minimizing waste generation. Proposals should: develop, test and validate innovative solutions that accelerate the adoption of textile reuse and repair practices by local/regional authorities and their operators (e.g. public collection points, retailer take-back schemes); involve citizens, local (e.g. upcycling) businesses and social enterprises in the development and implementation of local repair & reuse strategies and practices; improve data captured on local textile waste flows and ensure transparency and traceability across the supply chain; develop solutions for sorting, and preparing for re-use, including digital solutions (in view of the implementation of digital product passport) and AI to enable repair and affordable pricing of repaired clothes and to stimulate reuse of textiles, particularly apparels; incentivise manufacturers to provide spare parts to enhance reuse and reparability (e.g. linen for a coat, extra buttons, zippers, etc.) and to provide extended guarantee. develop actionable recommendations for replication in other European cities and regions. Proposals must use the multi-actor approach and take into account a gender sensitive and inclusive approach. Collaboration between retailers/manufacturers and small repair business and social enterprises is encouraged. Proposals should seek to contribute to the goals and cooperate with the services of the European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) and in particular with the CCRI Coordination and Support Office. Joint activities with other CCRI-related projects and clustering with other related projects is strongly encouraged. Proposals should also evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and impact of the demonstrated solutions using robust evaluation methods (including lifecycle assessments such as product environmental footprint, where relevant) and present data and evidence about the economic, environmental and social costs and benefits of the developed solutions. The topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities. The topic supports the European Green Deal, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and its working plan, the upcoming Circular Economy Act and contributes to Europe’s efforts to develop a single market for sustainable products. It also contr Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Circular Systems Keywords: Business model innovation, Circular economy, Climate change mitigation, Competitiveness, innovation, research and development, Design innovation, Ecodesign, Life Cycle Analysis, Environment, Environment, Pollution & Climate, Environment, resources and sustainability, Environmental change and society, Environmental protection, Greenhouse gases, Inclusion, Industrial innovation policy, Industrial sectoral change, Innovation policy, Innovation strategies, Innovation systems, Knowledge and Technology transfer, Knowledge transfer, Natural resources and environmental economics, New business opportunities, New industrial value chains, Organizational innovation, Polymers and plastics, Process innovation, Product innovation, Public sector innovation, Regional development, Regulatory framework for innovation, Related to industrial policy, Related to regional development, Resources efficiency, Social Networks, Social innovation, Sustainable design (for recycling, for environment, eco-design), Sustainable innovation, Technological innovation, Textiles, Textiles including synthetic dyes, colours, fibres, Urban studies, regional studies, Waste, Waste management, Waste recycling, circular economy, place-based innovation, product refurbishment, textiles reuse