Horizon Europe Cluster 6 – Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Argriculture and Environment

The Horizon Europe mandate for Cluster 6 is to provide opportunities to strengthen and balance environmental, social and economic goals and to set human economic activities on a path towards sustainability. Therefore, the underlying paradigm of Cluster 6 is the need for a transformative change of the EU economy and society to reduce environmental degradation, halt and reverse the decline of biodiversity and better manage natural resources while meeting the EU’s climate objectives and ensuring food and water security. It takes into account the evolving geopolitical context and the new research and innovation priorities focused on further strengthening the EU’s open strategic autonomy in particular in the energy and food sectors.

Research and innovation (R&I) in this cluster will help meet to the long-term priority objectives to 2030 set out in the 8th Environment Action Programme. In particular it will ensure that policy action is firmly anchored in latest science and knowledge. It will therefore contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerate the ecological transition required by the European Green Deal. Of particular relevance will be:

• SDG 2 – zero hunger
• SDG 3 – good health and well-being
• SDG 6 – clean water and sanitation
• SDG 8 – decent work and economic growth
• SDG 9 – industry, innovation, and infrastructure
• SDG 11 – sustainable cities and communities
• SDG 12 - responsible consumption and production
• SDG 13 – climate action
• SDG 14 – life below water
• SDG 15 – life on land

Activities under Cluster 6 will support the new innovation agenda for Europe and help accelerate the ecological transition required by the European Green Deal in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This will be done by preserving Earth’s natural carbon sinks and stocks in ecosystems, including soils and plants, forests, farmed lands and wetlands and the marine environment. This will substantially reduce GHGs from the forestry and agricultural sectors and transform the food system. In addition, activities will foster innovation to develop the circular economy and exploit the potential of biological resources for renewable products. This will reduce the EU’s dependence on non-renewable resources and help reduce emissions/waste from industrial processes by using more sustainable bio-based systems. At the same time, it will avoid trade-offs that could damage biodiversity and will promote synergistic measures to protect biodiversity.

Under the work programme 2023-2024 for Food Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment the following 6 destinations are listed below:

1. Biodiversity and ecosystem services
2. Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
3. Clean environment and zero pollution
4. Land, ocean and water for climate action
5. Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities
6. Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal

Learn more: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2023-2024/wp-9-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf