European Commission: Improving Food Systems Sustainability and Soil Health with Food Processing Residues
Deadline: 27-Sep-22
The European Commission (EC) is accepting proposals for Improving Food Systems Sustainability and Soil Health with Food Processing Residues.
Scope
The predominantly linear economic models of food production are unstainable and heavily rely on finite and scarce resources, such as phosphorus and water. In spite of recent achievements in resource efficiency gain, the food production and processing industry still requires large volumes of clean water; while also contributing to the discharge of nutrients and organic matter into publicly owned streams and waterbodies. Those nutrients and organic matter can be valorised and used as soil improvers,[1] instead of being wasted. Food systems actors need to recognise that the re-use of water and food by-products is key to achieve circularity in the industry and contribute to soil health.
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Project results should contribute to all of the following outcomes:
Improved management and recycling of food-processing residues (solid and liquid) for increased soil health.
Reduced discharge of nutrients (i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) into sewage/natural watercourses and landfills relieving eutrophication in water bodies.
Empowered interdisciplinary design processes to create soil improvers and to valorise food by-products in food systems (e.g., land managers, industry, SMEs, local authorities, educational institutions and civil society).
Higher number of co-developed solutions and investments (public and private) in circular bioeconomy projects.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
eligible non-EU countries:
countries associated to Horizon Europe;
low- and middle-income countries.
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