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
Food systems, on the one hand, are a source of pollution and, on the other, suffer the consequences of pollution. Moving towards zero-pollution food systems can therefore help to increase the resilience of food systems and the natural ecosystems on which they depend.
Contaminants accumulate in food, either through food contact with specific materials at different stages of the food supply chain, such as food processing plants, packaging, or in agriculture with contaminated soil, air and water.
Detailed Call Description
Some activities of the food and drink industries can lead to soil, water and air pollution, which can, in turn, adversely affect food safety, biodiversity and human health. This pollution can take many forms: plastics (including micro- and nano-plastics), food packaging, persistent chemicals, light, noise, odour, etc. There are significant regional differences in the impact of environmental pollution, depending on the type of pollutant. While European and national strategies remain important to reducing pollution, international cooperation is key to ensure that efficient and impactful measures are put in place to protect our oceans and inland waters, ecosystems, biodiversity and health.
- focus on food and drink industries’ processes and on pollutants (including emerging pollutants) typically coming from these industries;
- develop analytical methods, e.g. using the Environmental Footprint method, to measure pollutants and studying/mapping the pollutants coming from food and drink industries that are not covered in the Best Available Techniques (BAT) conclusions for the food, drink and milk industries and how they interact with each other (mixture of pollutants);
- propose monitoring/tracking methods for pollutants coming from food and drink industries, focusing on less-known and emerging pollutants specific for food and drink industries and taking into account the diversity of these industries;
- identify the most effective methods/best available technologies to reduce food-system-related pollution (in soil, water and air) from food and drink industries, focusing on the most relevant/prominent pollutants (the ultimate objective being to eventually stop pollution);
- develop activities for empowering consumers (e.g. communication, awareness raising);
- develop activities for ensuring adequate involvement of researchers, national agencies/authorities and laboratories, as well as food and drink industry (incl. strategic innovation platforms and federations).
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
70%
Expected EU contribution per project: €6.00 million
Thematic Categories
- Agriculture - Food
- Environment and Climate Change
- Health
- Industry
- Other Services
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
- Social Affairs & Human Rights
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- Businesses
- Employees
- Farmers, Agriculturalists
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Services Providers
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach by involving a wide range of food system actors and conducting multi-disciplinary research (including on environmental science and biodiversity).
International cooperation is strongly encouraged.
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