These calls help deliver sustainable food systems, protect biodiversity, and drive circular bioeconomy approaches. Spanning agriculture, ecosystems, and natural resources, this cluster offers rich opportunities for researchers and innovators building a greener, more resource-efficient Europe. 

Focus: Ensuring sustainability and resilience of food systems and ecosystems.
Key areas: 

  • Biodiversity and ecosystem services 
  • Sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 
  • Circular bioeconomy 
  • Food systems and security 
  • Water and soil management 

Open Calls

Topic Type Budget
(EUR million)
Budget/
project
N° of projects expected to be funded Deadline

 

Destination Biodiversity and ecosystem services

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-01: Understanding and tackling the decline of insects RIA 13.00 6.50 2 17 Sep 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02: Developing methods to assess the presence, functions and sensitivity of groundwater ecosystems RIA 10.00 5.00 2 17 Sep 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-06: Boosting agrobiodiversity for food security and sustainable competitiveness RIA 10.00 5.00 2 17 Sep 2026

 

Destination Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01:Improving circularity of multilayer flexible plastic food contact packaging IA 11.00 5.00 to 6.00 2 17 Sep 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-07:Advancing the European bio-based innovation enabled by biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts RIA 12.00 4.00 3 17 Sep 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-09: Balancing food security, bioeconomy, climate and biodiversity objectives while unlocking sustainable value chains RIA 12.00 6.00 2 17 Sep 2026

 

Destination Clean environment and zero pollution

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01- ZEROPOLLUTION-01: Toward a comprehensive assessment of the disturbance of marine ecosystems by anthropogenic underwater noise RIA 10.00 10.00 1 17 Sep 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02: Bioremediation of Ukraine’s ecosystems contaminated by conflicts IA 11.00 5.00 to 6.00

2

 

17 Sep 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03: Developing managed aquifer recharge techniques (MAR) in a rural context RIA 12.00 6.00 2 17 Sep 2026

 

Destination Fair, healthy and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-05: Boosting circularity and diversification strategies of terrestrial livestock production systems RIA 12.00 6.00 2 14 Apr 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-07: Strengthening the       EU        plant   protection ecosystem for a future-proof agriculture CSA 3.00 3.00 1 14 Apr 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-09:Sustainable and healthy diets for cardiovascular diseases prevention with the support of digital applications IA 12.00 Around 6.00 2 14 Apr 2026
HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-11:
Integrating a holistic perspective in microbiome research for resilient, competitive and sustainable food systems
RIA 11.00 5.00 to 6.00 2 14 Apr 2026

 

Two-Stage Calls 2026

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02-two-stage: Open topic: Uncovering the causes of specific species’ rapid decline and exploring actionable solutions RIA 12.00 3.00 4

16 Apr 2026 (First Stage), 23 Sep 2026 (Second Stage)

 

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage: Open topic: Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector by enhancing the efficient and sustainable use of agricultural production factors IA 13.50 4.50 3

14 Apr 2026 (First Stage), 15 Sep 2026 (Second Stage)

 

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-02-two-stage: Open topic: Boosting organic farming for a competitive, sustainable and resilient farming sector IA 13.50 4.50 3 14 Apr 2026 (First Stage), 15 Sep 2026 (Second Stage)

 


All the Open Calls