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
Water availability and quality is one of the most pressing issues, affecting human health, limiting food production, limiting ecological services, and hindering economic growth.
Agriculture is currently accounting to around one fourth of the total water extraction in the EU, which is leading to tensions and in some cases to conflicts, in particular where illegal abstraction takes place. It is therefore crucial to prepare agriculture to adapt to a new context where water in agriculture is more sustainably and efficiently used, without compromising the water availability for other users or undermining the good status of waterbodies.
Detailed Call Description
Proposals should address the following:
- Produce tools and techniques to support farmers, special planners, policy makers and water managers with scientific and practical knowledge, including advice on appropriated price incentives and water management assistance, optimising agricultural water use, not only water for irrigation but also water used by local people and in other economic sectors, for the benefit of a healthy environment.
- Develop or improve with new scientific knowledge and practice the methodology for monitoring and prediction of water quality and quantity requirements for agricultural use, based on information provided by Earth Observation systems and in situ measurements, using digital technologies such as smart (bio)sensors and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as DNA-based indicators, that integrate monitoring and modelling tools to support decisions in relation to water management.
- Assess and propose relevant adaptation of water infrastructures for irrigation, agricultural practices and land use. Consider nature-based solutions and latest technologies to address emerging needs and challenges like floods, droughts and/or salinization. Proposed measures should increase the resilience of agriculture by lowering the need for irrigation, reducing at the same time the environmental impact associated with irrigation in agriculture (e.g. salinisation and concentration of nutrients and pollutants) and therefore enhancing ecosystem protection and biodiversity preservation.
- Develop scientific and practice advice to reduce water losses in agricultural activities while considering farmer’s water security and quality challenges.
- Technologies to support a significant reduction of the presence of pesticide residues and nutrients in water bodies to levels that are no longer harmful.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
EU Contribution per project: €6,00 million
Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
- Fisheries/ Aquaculture and Maritime Policy
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Rural development
- Water - Management of Water Resources
Eligibility for Participation
- Farmers Unions
- Farmers, Agriculturalists
- Fishermen, Aquaculturists, Owners of Vessels
- Large Enterprises
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Semi-governmental organisations
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Support farmers, special planners, policy makers, water managers.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou Street, 1075 Nicosia
T.Th. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
+357 22205000
Email: support@research.org.cy
Contact Persons:
Marcia Trillidou
Scientific Officer A’
Email: trillidou@research.org.cy
Dr. Mary Economou
Scientific Officer
Email: meconomou@research.org.cy
(Publish Date: 15/02/2023-for internal use only)
EU Contact Point
European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/research-and-innovation_en#contact