Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation framework programme, is the main funding instrument for the implementation of the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Mission Soil). The goal of the Mission is to create 100 living labs and lighthouses. The co-creation of solutions on the ground, together with an ambitious research and innovation programme, soil monitoring and citizen engagement will ensure the long-term health and functions of soils. The Mission is also contributing to mitigating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of soil degradation.
Since 2021, the European Commission has launched three dedicated Mission Soil calls for proposals and evaluated 120 proposals, resulting in 29 projects with a total EU contribution of €161 million.
The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025 was published on 17 April 2024.
The Mission Soil Work Programme 2024 includes nine calls for proposals, with submission opening on 8 May 2024 and a total indicative budget of EUR 134.5 million. The deadline for submitting proposals was 8 October 2024.
Nine calls for proposals for 2024 were launched on 8 May 2024, with the deadline for submission on 8 October 2024.
The nine topics address the following issues:
HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01: Co-creating solutions for soil health in Living Labs;
HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-02: Living Labs in urban areas for healthy soils;
- HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-04: Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes;
- HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-05: Soil health, pollinators and key ecosystem functions;
- HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-06: Harnessing the multifunctional potential of soil biodiversity for healthy cropping systems;
HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-09: Assessment of Soil Health in Africa.
To learn more about the new calls for proposals, watch the recording of the Info Days for EU Missions and Cross-cutting Activities on 25-26 April 2024.
Further funding opportunities are also available under Cluster 6 ‘Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment’, within Horizon Europe. This cluster aims to fund research and innovation projects that tackle challenges and seize opportunities encountered by farmers, foresters, and rural communities and produce innovative solutions, thus showing strong linkages to Mission Soil. The goal is to foster a circular and sustainable approach to agriculture and resource management while addressing environmental and societal concerns. Cluster 6 calls for proposals for 2024 closed. The next calls for proposals are expected to launch in early 2025.
For more information on the calls, please visit the European Research Executive Agency website and the European Commission’s Funding and Tenders portal.