Why the EU supports research and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas
Agriculture and forestry provide food, feed and non-food products to meet the demands of a wide range of industries and consumers, under a variety of geographical and socio-economic conditions. They also provide social and environmental benefits and play an important role in the developing rural areas, improving quality of life, and creating jobs.
World population growth, hunger, obesity and evolving consumer demands put pressure on agricultural production to improve food and nutrition security globally. Simultaneously, farming and food systems must be resilient against the challenges of finite resources, environmental degradation, climate change and the loss of biodiversity.
Transitions require locally adapted solutions that both improve the economic viability and social conditions of farming, enable generational renewal and contribute to the development, resilience and attractiveness of rural areas.
Research and innovation is critically important to develop and upscale knowledge, practices, technological and social innovations, policies and governance that will enable transitions towards sustainable farming systems and rural communities.
EU agricultural research and innovation is guided by a long-term strategic approach that focuses on creating value from land through sustainable primary production and on enhancing rural innovation.
Policy focus
Funding opportunities
Calls for proposals and funding information related to food, bioeconomy, natural resources agriculture and environment.
Some agriculture and forestry related calls may be found in this programme.
Agriculture research related calls may be found in this programme.
Projects and results
This factsheet gives an overview of the research and innovation related to agriculture and forestry under Horizon 2020 societal challenge 2.
The Commission's primary portal for results of EU-funded research projects.
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded research projects.
The one-stop shop to EU-funded agricultural innovation projects.
Success stories
As the environmental and economic costs of industrial farming grow, so do opportunities to spur an ecological change.
- Project locations
- Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal
People love tomatoes so much that they are now the most important vegetable crop worldwide. But as world temperatures rise, the risk of losing this vital source of food has become very real.
- Project locations
- France, Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom
Collaboration and jobs
Search and view profiles of all organisations that have received funding via the funding and tenders opportunities portal.
Partnerships with EU countries on agricultural research programmes.
International cooperation in research and innovation contributes to respond to global challenges.
Researcher jobs in related fields.
Scientific publications, tools and databases
Scientific publications produced by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Software and modelling tools and databases related to agriculture, developed and compiled by the Commission's Joint Research Centre.
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions. All data is free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes.
All scientific publications from Horizon 2020 are accessible via OpenAIRE.
Access to agriculture data from the Copernicus programme.
Together with the Soil Strategy, the upcoming Soil Health Law, the European Soil Observatory and climate policies (such as for carbon farming) the Mission is part of a robust framework for soil protection in the EU.
Latest
Research and innovation news alert: The first day features the opening ceremony at 14:00 CET, a journey through the 40-year-old history of the EU R&I framework programme and discussions about its future, and culminates with the announcement of the Women Innovators Prize Ceremony at 17:00 CET.
The Horizon Europe Cluster 6 2024 calls for proposals, will open on 17 October 2023 with a deadline for submission end of February 2024. This Work Programme includes 75 new topics proposing over EUR 890 million of EU funding to support the best actions
