Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) refers to any form of agriculture that controls and optimises environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, light or nutrient concentration.
Examples of CEA include greenhouses, vertical farms, greenhouses, building-integrated agriculture, hydroponics, hydroponics, aeroponics, and other practices where technological advances allow for precise regulation of growing conditions.
CEA optimisation offers advantages in terms of resource efficiency, environmental sustainability and crop quality, providing a promising alternative to traditional agriculture to meet the growing global demand for food, especially in the face of climate change and urbanisation.
Detailed Call Description
- assess the state-of-the-art technologies and innovations in CEA, evaluating their effectiveness, assessing resource efficiency (including energy and water demands) and identifying opportunities for optimisation through technological innovations and management practices;
- analyse the socio- economic feasibility and viability of implementing CEA systems at different scales and evaluating their cost-effectiveness compared to conventional agriculture. Analysing the economic viability of sustainable CEA practices.
- investigate the environmental sustainability and environmental footprint[1] of CEA systems (including GHG emissions);
- assess the current state of crop varieties grown in CEA systems, identifying gaps and opportunities for the development of novel crop varieties, including innovation in plant variety testing, and challenges hindering the adoption of novel crop varieties in CEA;
- provide insights into the future trajectory of CEA, examining emerging trends, investigating technological innovations (like IoT, artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnologies, etc.), and their implications for sustainable food production in the coming decades and the farming profession therein. Identify key challenges hindering CEA adoption and provide strategies for enhancing the expansion of best practices in CEA.
The involvement of SMEs is essential for this topic. Proposals may involve financial support to third parties, particularly for SMEs providing and/or developing testing, or validating the proposed innovative technologies/solutions. A maximum 30% of EU funding should be allocated to this purpose.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
Expected EU contribution per project: €6.00 million.
Thematic Categories
- Agriculture - Farming - Forestry
- Education and training
- Environment and Climate Change
- New Entrepreneurship
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Rural development
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Farmers, Agriculturalists
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Services Providers
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia,
P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Contact Persons:
Marcia Trillidou
Scientific Officer A’
Email: trillidou@research.org.cy
Dr. Mary Economou
Scientific Officer
Email: meconomou@research.org.cy