Funding opportunities

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 four dedicated Mission Soil calls for proposals, two joint calls for EU Missions Climate, Oceans & waters and Soil, and evaluated over 250 proposals, resulting in 50 projects with a total EU contribution of €341.1 million. 

The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025 was published on 17 April 2024. The Mission Soil Work Programme 2024 included nine calls for proposals and a total indicative budget of EUR 134.5 million. The calls closed on 8 October 2024. Applicants will be informed during the first quarter of 2025.

New calls for proposals will open in 2025.

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