EU Horizon Call: Boost Organic, Biodiversity Farming (CL6-2026)

This funding call, titled "Open topic: Boosting organic farming for a competitive, sustainable and resilient farming sector (HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-02)", outlines a European Union research and innovation action focused on scaling up organic and biodiversity‑friendly farming across Europe. The notice is targeted at consortia of research organisations, advisory services, SMEs, farmer groups and other stakeholders who can design and test innovative approaches that make organic and low‑input systems more productive, profitable and resilient while retaining their environmental benefits.

The call is situated under the EU’s Farm to Fork and Green Deal strategies, which aim to increase the share of agricultural land under organic management and to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. Within this wider policy context, the text emphasises the dual objective of strengthening the competitiveness of organic farming and ensuring that it continues to deliver high levels of biodiversity, soil health and climate mitigation. Applicants are encouraged to propose integrated solutions that address agronomic performance, economic viability, supply chain organisation and consumer trust in organic products.

Key themes highlighted in the call include improving the efficiency and circularity of inputs in organic systems, for example by better recycling of nutrients, optimising crop rotations and mixed farming, and enhancing biological pest and disease control. The call also stresses the importance of climate‑resilient practices, such as diversified cropping, agroforestry, improved pasture management and water‑saving techniques, which can help organic farms adapt to more frequent droughts, floods and extreme weather events. Another priority is to reduce yield gaps between organic and conventional systems where this can be done without undermining core organic principles.

Beyond on‑farm techniques, the text places strong emphasis on scaling and system innovation. Proposals are expected to consider how advisory services, digital tools, farmer‑to‑farmer learning and participatory research can accelerate adoption of successful practices. Projects may be asked to work across multiple regions or Member States to test solutions under diverse agro‑ecological and socio‑economic conditions. There is also an expectation that funded consortia will engage closely with value chain actors, including processors and retailers, to create more robust market outlets for organic and biodiversity‑friendly products, thereby improving farm incomes and reducing the risk associated with conversion or expansion.

The call documentation typically specifies expected impacts such as increased area under organic and other biodiversity‑enhancing practices, measurable reductions in the environmental footprint per unit of production, and improved resilience of farming communities to market and climate shocks. It also underlines the role of organic and agroecological approaches in meeting EU biodiversity targets, protecting pollinators, and maintaining ecosystem services such as water quality and carbon sequestration.

For practitioners and organisations working in regenerative agriculture, agroecology or sustainable value chain development, this funding opportunity provides a detailed map of EU priorities. It signals strong institutional backing for projects that integrate technical innovation with social and organisational change: farmer clusters, living labs, advisory networks and demonstration farms are all framed as valuable vehicles for experimentation and knowledge exchange. The call therefore not only offers financial resources but also a policy framework that recognises organic and nature‑positive systems as central to a competitive and resilient European farming sector.