International cooperation for sustainable food systems

Cluster 6 strives to reduce negative environmental impacts from food production, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry and at the same time maintain or expand European competitiveness.

The cluster's destinations:

• Biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food systems from primary production to consumption
• Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
• Clean environment and zero pollution
• Land, sea and water for climate action
• Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities
• Innovative management, environmental observations and digital solutions to support green givens (Green Deal) 

Read more about cluster 6 on the European Commission's website

The calls for proposals are presented in work programs. For current information, read more on Horisont Europas's website.

Our National Contact Points (NCPs) are available for questions.

If you want to keep up to date on opportunities for funding, networking and knowledge exchange within Horisont Europa, Vinnova provides a monthly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter.

If you want more guidance, you can get help from our national contact persons (NCPs) and the following bodies for questions about Horisont Europa:

• Read more about our National Contact Points (NCPs)
• EU-SME Support Office
• Research service or innovation office at universities or organisations
• Direct contact with responsible programme manager for the programs. Contact person can be found in information about the respective programme or call for proposals

De Europeiska FoI-partnerskapen is collaboration between member states, third countries and the European Commission. The Commission co-finances activities within the partnership. Each partnership lasts for 7 years and has recurring calls for proposals.

• European Partnership accelerating farming systems transition: agroecology living labs and research infrastructure (AGROECOLOGY) (Formas)
• European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare (PAHW) (Formas)
• European partnership on sustainable food systems for people, planet and climate (FutureFoodS) (Vinnova and Formas)
• European Biodiversity Partnership (Biodiversa+) (Formas)
• European Partnership for Agriculture of Data
• European Partnership for a climate neutral, sustainable and productive Blue Economy (SBEP) (Formas)
• European Partnership for a Circular bio-based Europe

Read more about European Partnerships on the Horisont Europas website

The partnership brings together financiers and research and innovation performers towards a common objective and with a common agenda. The focus is on post-harvest/fishing, from raw materials to eating habits and food for health.

The areas of research and innovation are:

• Change the way we eat
• Change the way we process and distribute food
• Change the way we connect to the food systems
• Change the way we manage food systems
  

What is unique about the partnership and project being financed is the application of a systems perspective. In addition, there are four guiding principles: Transformation, Inter- and transdisciplinarity, Sustainability (environmental, economic and social, including health) and Engaging a diversity of actors.

The partnership is to contribute to implementing Food 2030, deliver on from farm to table - the strategy and the green given, and contribute to the UN's objective for sustainable development, Agenda 2030.

Vinnova and Formas stand for Swedish participation today, and the national participation mainly consists of contributing to the design of the partnership and enabling Swedish actors to apply for funding in the transnational the calls for proposals.

In addition to calls for proposals there will be other efforts such as a network of living labs and a "food system observatory" to contribute to the transition to sustainable food systems.
There is an opportunity for more actors to join during the partnership's operational year, which extends from 2024 to 2034.

For questions about FutureFoodS, contact erika.ax@vinnova.se

A Soil Deal for Europe has as its main objective healthier soils by 2030, through sustainable land use and restoration as part of a wider green transition in rural and urban areas. The work has four building blocks

• Research and innovation program with a strong social science component
• Network of "100" Living Labs” and "Lighthouses" to co-create knowledge, test solutions and demonstrate their value in real conditions
• Harmonized framework for soil monitoring in Europe
• Increase people's awareness of the vital importance of land

Read more about EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe

The work with Missions is mainly implemented through annual work programs with calls for proposals. Updated information from the commission is available at Mission Soil Platform.

There are also a number of initiatives to strengthen the implementation of A Soil Deal for Europe. There sometimes NATI00NS and a mapping of ongoing initiatives Map of Living Labs and Lighthouses.

Read more about NATI00NS
Read more about Map of Living Labs and Lighthouses | Prepsoil​

On behalf of the government, Vinnova collaborates with Formas for national relevance and dissemination of A Soil Deal for Europe. A reference group with actors from the system supports the work.

At Vinnova there is also a national contact person (NCP) for all missions, Jonathan Nylander.

Curious about who the four other EU Missions are? Read more about missions.