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Cluster 6
Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Horizon Europe Cluster 6 supports research and innovation projects addressing key challenges related to food systems, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, environment, and sustainability. The funding aims to generate solutions that are scientifically robust, practically applicable, and aligned with European policy priorities.

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Cluster 6 brings together research, industry, policymakers, and practitioners to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable, resilient, and competitive systems across Europe and beyond.

Horizon Europe Cluster 6 plays a central role in translating research into practical solutions that respond to today’s environmental, economic, and societal challenges.

This funding matters because it:

  • Bridges the gap between research, innovation, and implementation

  • Encourages cross-sector collaboration through multi-actor projects

  • Supports solutions that are policy-relevant, scalable, and evidence-based

  • Strengthens Europe’s capacity to respond to systemic risks, including environmental and climate-related pressures

  • Promotes long-term sustainability across food, agriculture, and natural resource systems

Projects funded under Cluster 6 are expected to contribute not only to knowledge generation, but also to measurable impact on the ground.

The Cluster 6 work programme covers a broad thematic scope. Among the upcoming calls, particular attention is given to topics addressing:

  • Resilience of agriculture, forestry, and food systems

  • Evidence-based policymaking and governance

  • Climate adaptation and ecosystem restoration

  • Innovation uptake through living labs and stakeholder engagement

These calls are especially relevant for organisations looking to develop applied, impact-driven projects with strong stakeholder involvement.

Cluster 6 funding is open to a broad range of organisations, including:

  • Universities and research organisations

  • SMEs, start-ups, and industry

  • Public authorities and agencies

  • NGOs, civil society, and practitioner organisations

Projects typically require international consortia and often apply a multi-actor approach, ensuring active involvement of end-users and stakeholders.

Most calls require or strongly encourage a multi-actor approach, involving researchers, industry, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society to ensure relevance and uptake of results.

So far, we found these calls particularly interesting:

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  • ​HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-07: Strengthening the EU plant protection ecosystem for a future-proof agriculture

  • HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-01-two-stage: Open topic: Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector by enhancing the efficient and sustainable use of agricultural production factors

  • HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-02-two-stage: Open topic: Boosting organic farming for a competitive, sustainable and resilient farming sector

  • HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-06: Bioeconomy policy support hub for Member States, regions and sectors

  • HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-07: Advancing the European bio-based innovation enabled by biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts

  • HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-08: Supporting pre-normative research for standardization of the bio-based products

  • HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-08: Biotechnology application for CCU

  • HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-09: Increasing the circularity of bio-based sector: upcycling and recycling for higher value and environmental benefits

  • HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-01: Towards more effective, fair and coherent policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and forestry

  • HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-03: Carbon farming innovation and scale-up​

Calls under the 2026–2027 Horizon Europe Cluster 6 work programme are expected to open progressively. Early awareness of topics can support strategic planning, partnership building, and concept development.

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