What is Horizon Europe and how does it support the CAP’s objectives?

You have probably heard of Horizon Europe programme, but you may not know exactly what it is or the role it plays within the European Union. Horizon Europe is the EU’s largest research and innovation programme, with a budget of more than €95 billion, making it one of the biggest research funding programmes in the world.

Its main objective is to support projects and innovative initiatives across Europe that develop new technologies, practical solutions, and approaches to address today’s major challenges. One of the key areas it focuses on is agriculture, forestry, and rural development.

Horizon Europe works alongside the CAP 2023–2027, which supports investments and agricultural measures through the CAP Strategic Plans. While the CAP mainly focuses on implementing policies and supporting farmers directly, Horizon Europe concentrates on research, innovation, and the development of new solutions that can later be applied in practice within the agricultural sector.

A particularly important part of the programme for agriculture is Cluster 6, which focuses on food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and the environment. With a budget of around €9 billion for the 2021–2027 period, it funds research and innovation projects directly linked to farming, sustainability, and rural communities.

At the same time, the mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” plays a significant role in supporting sustainable agriculture. With a budget of approximately €825 million, the initiative aims to improve soil health across Europe through living labs, pilot projects, and demonstrations of good practices under real-life conditions.

Collaboration is at the heart of Horizon Europe. Many projects follow the so-called “multi-actor approach”, bringing together farmers, researchers, universities, agricultural advisors, businesses, and public or private organisations. This ensures that innovation is not developed only in laboratories or at a theoretical level, but is closely connected to the real needs of farmers and rural communities.

The programme funds projects in a wide range of areas, including digital farming, smart irrigation systems, precision agriculture, robotics, drones, crop management, climate adaptation, and sustainable food production. Many initiatives also focus on biodiversity protection, water resilience, and the development of more sustainable agri-food systems.

How can someone apply?

Funding opportunities are published through the official EU Funding & Tenders Portal, where interested applicants can search for open calls, review participation requirements, and identify potential partners for project consortia.

In most cases, projects require cooperation between at least three organisations from three different countries. Applications can be submitted by universities, research institutes, businesses, cooperatives, public authorities, as well as organisations and groups involved in agriculture and rural development.

By supporting cooperation and knowledge exchange, Horizon Europe helps bridge the gap between research and practice. At the same time, it contributes to the objectives of the CAP by promoting innovation, sustainability, and resilience in European agriculture. Ultimately, the programme supports the transition towards a more modern, competitive, and environmentally sustainable agricultural sector, better prepared for the challenges of the future.