EU Horizon Europe Program Funds 91 New Projects Supporting the Green Deal
The European Union has announced the funding of 91 new projects as part of the Horizon Europe framework programme for research and innovation under Cluster 6: “Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment.” These initiatives are designed to support the goals outlined in the EU Green Deal, aiming to combat environmental degradation, reverse biodiversity loss, promote efficient management of natural resources, and safeguard food and water security.
The projects have officially signed their Grant Agreements with the European Commission, with many already commencing their research and others set to begin soon.
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Focus Areas of the Selected Projects
1. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
These projects aim to:
– Manage protected area networks and improve species and habitat conditions, with a particular emphasis on pollinators.
– Integrate biodiversity, ecosystem services, and natural capital into public and corporate decision-making processes.
– Employ nature-based solutions to address societal challenges and advance transformative environmental change.
– Enhance agricultural, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture practices for biodiversity preservation.
– Utilize advanced digital technologies and foster societal engagement to connect biodiversity research at both EU and global levels.
🔗 See funded biodiversity projects
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2. Fair, Healthy, and Environmentally Friendly Food Systems
These projects seek to:
– Prevent and reduce food waste.
– Develop sustainable and healthy food products and processes while addressing food fraud.
– Create smart tools for healthy and sustainable food provision and analyze the impact of alternative protein sources.
– Use citizen science to promote the transition to sustainable food systems.
– Address food security, climate adaptation, and fair-trade practices in Africa.
🔗 See funded food systems projects
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3. Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Sectors
Key priorities include:
– Promoting the transition to a circular economy through innovative methods and sustainable practices in sectors like tourism, furniture, and textiles.
– Developing solutions for the programmed biodegradation of bio-based materials.
– Exploring organisms thriving in extreme conditions to discover novel enzymes, drugs, and chemicals for industrial use.
🔗 See funded circular economy projects
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4. Clean Environment and Zero Pollution
Projects under this theme aim to:
– Eliminate pollution from fresh and marine waters, soils, and air.
– Analyze the environmental impacts of food systems and develop recycling and recovery solutions for fertilizers with reduced ecological footprints.
🔗 See funded zero-pollution projects
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5. Land, Oceans, and Water for Climate Action
Key areas of focus include:
– Assessing the socio-economic and environmental impacts of agriculture on peatlands.
– Developing improved irrigation practices and technologies for agriculture.
– Creating ocean models to evaluate climate impacts across various regions.
– Promoting climate-smart wood use in construction, aligned with the New European Bauhaus initiative.
– Strengthening EU-China cooperation to enhance biodiversity monitoring and foster synergies between climate adaptation, mitigation, and conservation.
🔗 [See funded climate action projects](https://cordis.europa.eu/search?q=contenttype%3D%27project%27
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