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ActiveEIT Food · 2026

Test Farms Startups Call

Quick Facts

Agency: EIT Food
Funding: Up to €4,000 (lump sum) per application, covering specific cost categories.
Deadline: Check Source
Status: Active
Eligibility: TRL 6-9 startups (agritech or aquatech solutions).

About This Grant

Test Farms Startups Call is sponsored by EIT Food. This call aims to attract TRL 6-9 startups ready to demonstrate the value of their agritech or aquatech technologies and scale their impact. Selected startups gain access to farmers, agronomists, and testing sites for real-world validation on European farms or aquaculture sites.

View Original RFP

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Official Opportunity Details

Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.

Test Farms Startups Call - EIT Food This call aims to attract TRL 6–9 startups that are ready to demonstrate the value of their technologies and scale their impact. Through Test Farms, selected startups will gain access to farmers, agronomists, testing sites, and visibility opportunities.

EIT Food South, EIT Food North & East, EIT Food West Madrid, EIT Food CLC South Deadline: 02 February 2026 This call aims to attract TRL 6–9 startups that are ready to demonstrate the value of their technologies and scale their impact. Through Test Farms, selected startups will gain access to farmers, agronomists, testing sites, and visibility opportunities that help drive commercial adoption and investor interest.

Through this call, EIT Food is looking for startups that want to: Participate in real-world testing and validation of their agritech or aquatech solutions on European farms or aquaculture sites. Engage directly with farmers and agronomists to refine their products based on practical needs and field performance. Generate evidence, data, and validation results that strengthen their commercial readiness and investor attractiveness.

Showcase their solutions to potential clients, partners, and funding sources through visibility and promotional activities. Contribute to a more sustainable and efficient agrifood system, bringing digital, biotech, circular, regenerative, or aquatech innovations to market. Deliver strong business KPIs, including sales growth, funding attraction, and measurable validation metrics aligned with the programme’s objectives.

The Test Farms programme seeks European-based innovative startups that are developing solutions with strong potential to transform agriculture or aquaculture. The ideal organisational profile includes: Incorporated startup or early-scale-up operating in agri-tech and aqua-tech industry. Solutions at TRL 6–9 , meaning the innovation has been validated in a relevant environment and is ready for real-world testing with end users.

Technologies that demonstrate clear novelty, strong potential for positive environmental or economic impact, and alignment with Test Farms focus themes (e.g., regenerative agriculture, decarbonisation, digital farming, sustainable feed, circular systems). The ability to deploy and support their solution in the field, including sufficient staffing, technical expertise, and resources to carry out the pilot in collaboration with farmers.

Data and Learning Orientation: Readiness to collect, analyse, and share performance data to support programme KPIs, contribute to impact measurement, and refine the solution after field validation. Scalability & Market Potential: Solutions that have a clear pathway to commercialisation and scaling across European farming or aquaculture systems.

Collaboration & Communication Skills: Willingness to work closely with farmers, technical partners, and EIT Food teams in a transparent, cooperative manner. The project runs from March 2026 to November 2026. The maximum funding available for that period per application is 4.

000,00 EUR (lump sum). The lump sum is intended to support a broad set of activities aligned with Horizon Europe and EIT Food priorities. It covers the following cost categories: Other Goods & Services (up to €500): to cover the organisation of their Demo Day activities, including printing materials, documentation, or small event-related expenses, as well as any other eligible costs approved by the Test Farms manager.

Travel (up to €1380): to cover up to two essential project-related travels and associated accommodation costs, as well as the transportation of the solution to and from the testing site where applicable Direct subcontracting costs (up to €1650): to cover essential pilot-related expenses, including field adjustments and installation, as well as the rental of equipment or laboratory services required for testing their solution.

Indirect Costs (up to €470): to cover indirect and overhead costs that facilitate participation in the Test Farms pilot, including administrative, managerial, and communication-related. This call is open to eligible legally incorporated entities, startups, SMEs.

Each implementing participant must be a legally incorporated entity registered in or after 2016 in one of the following countries: Be a legally incorporated entity registered in or after 2016 in one of Horizon Europe eligible countries. Provide a PIC Number: https://www. eitfood.

eu/files/PIC-Guidance. pdf Have developed an innovative solution* in aquaculture and/or agriculture/animal husbandry, having a product with TRL 6-9 ready to be tested in a real environment . Have not participated in previous editions of the Test Farms.

Have developed an innovative solution* in aquaculture and/or agriculture/animal husbandry, having a product with TRL 6-9 ready to be tested in real environment . Be complete, with all mandatory application documents uploaded. Please, note that the pitch deck is required to be uploaded.

Be submitted on time via our submission template. Be fully written in English.

How to apply: MyEITFood Portal Communication of the results: 18th of February 2026 Call Guidelines Test Farms Startups Call v1 Test Farms Terms Conditions 2026 v2 Finland Resilient Agriculture Landscape Deadline: October 08, 2026 The EIT Food initiative is issuing an open call for proposals to establish the Finland Resilient Agriculture Landscape project, aimed at supporting regenerative agriculture transitions in Southern Finland from 2027 to 2029.

Lower Silesia 360 Integrated Farm Advisory Implementation Deadline: October 14, 2026 EIT Food is seeking an organisation or consortium to lead integrated, farmer-facing advisory implementation activities for the Lower Silesia 360° regenerative agriculture landscape during 2027 and 2028.

Request for EIT Food Accelerator Network Programme Implementing Participants 2027-2028 Deadline: October 26, 2026 The EIT Food Accelerator Network (EIT FAN) is seeking experienced organisations to become Implementing Participants for the 2027-2028 programme and deliver theme-based startup acceleration Hubs across Europe. View all recent Open Calls by EIT Food

Eligibility Requirements

TRL 6-9 startups (agritech or aquatech solutions).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for Test Farms Startups Call?

According to the current listing, eligibility includes: TRL 6-9 startups (agritech or aquatech solutions). Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.

How much funding does Test Farms Startups Call offer?

The current listing shows up to €4,000 (lump sum) per application, covering specific cost categories. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.

Who funds Test Farms Startups Call?

Test Farms Startups Call is funded by EIT Food. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.

How do I apply for Test Farms Startups Call?

Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.

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SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products

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

~EUR 20M (~$21.6M) EU contribution per project; 1 grant expected; EUR 20M topic budgetDeadline: Sep 22, 2026 (passed)

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