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SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products

European Commission

Expected Outcome:

Successful proposals will contribute to the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy, Farm to Fork Strategy, the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, in particular the objectives: ‘Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration’, the European Chemical Industry Action Plan as well as the Clean Industrial Deal.

Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

Full industrial scale biorefinery and related value chain(s) for the sustainable production of bio-based fertilisers and/or crop protection solutions.
Increased availability of cost-competitive and SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products with suitable agronomic efficacy.
Reduced reliance on synthetic/mineral agricultural chemical products.
Increased EU strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness through a robust cooperation among bio-based industries and farmers.
Increased soil health, including minimising accumulation of microplastics and pollutants in soil and water, with positive effects on quality, security and resilience of food production in agriculture.

Scope:

FAO estimates that up to 40% of food crops are lost due to plant pests and diseases globally every year.[1] Chemical synthetic products are conventionally used to protect crops and other plants from pests and diseases. In parallel, the EU is largely dependent on imports of both mineral and chemical fertilisers to grow crops. In both cases, over-use of synthetic/mineral products also poses concern for soil health and food quality. Moreover, the unequal distribution and depletion of non-renewable sources risks disrupting supply chains, particularly during energy crises.

SSbD bio-based fertilising and crop protection products can offer more resilient and sustainable solutions creating an added-value partnership between agriculture and industry both upstream (for feedstock supply) and downstream (for the use of sustainable and efficient bio-based products). However, when scaling-up, challenges need to be solved in terms of process efficiency and robustness against feedstock variability, formulations stability and efficacy on the field (also in consideration of climate change effects and different soil conditions), and cost competitiveness.

Proposals under this topic should:

Demonstrate (at TRL 8) the efficient industrial production of SSbD bio-based solutions as alternatives to current fertilising and/or crop protection products. Bioactive molecules and/or biotechnology solutions for bio-fertilisers, bio-stimulants and/or pest/disease control (e.g., bioherbicides, biopesticides, bioinsecticides), or a combination thereof, are in scope. Products in scope can be applicable at any crop(s) cycle stage.
Validate (at TRL 6 and above) at scale the produced bio-alternatives into the formulation of end-product(s) and test their agronomic efficiency, safety and sustainability to prove the achievement of similar or improved properties compared to defined benchmarks available in the market (synthetic and/or mineral). In case of bio-based fertilisers, put in place a solid production validation procedure to ensure reduced nutrient variability of the N/P/K content in end-products.
Test the developed product(s) with primary producers on the field (demo farms) for selected crops and monitor their effects on soil health and quality, as well as on water. Cover different climatic and soil conditions, taking into account different farming systems, including organic agriculture. If controlled release mechanisms are employed, the proposed innovations should avoid microplastics accumulation in soil.

In addition to the specific requirements applicable for the type of action, as described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026[2], proposals under this topic should:

As part of the multi-actor approach (MAA), ensure adequate involvement of all key actors in the value chains relevant for this topic and across the sustainable circular bio-based system, including primary producers to support the acceptance and adoption of developed products.
Address compliance with relevant EU regulatory frameworks related to manufacturing and entry-to-market of targeted bio-based alternative(s). This includes performing a sanitary and environmental risk assessment to prevent the introduction of harmful biological and/or chemical contaminants into soil, crops and the food chain, while also safeguarding human health and soil ecosystems. Include a task to identify potential regulatory gaps and provide recommendations to overcome potential bottlenecks.
Include a task to apply the SSbD framework, developed by the European Commission for the assessment of targeted bio-based product(s). For more information on the SSbD framework and criteria, refer to Safe and sustainable by design.
Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020 / Horizon Europe (under Cluster 6 and other Clusters of Horizon Europe) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects.

All Horizon Europe proposals are scored on three decisive pillars:

✔️ Excellence

Clear, innovative idea beyond state-of-the-art
Strong methodology and scientific credibility
Well-defined, measurable objectives

✔️ Impact (most decisive in practice)

Demonstrated societal, economic, or environmental impact
Strong dissemination & exploitation plan
Alignment with EU priorities (Green Deal, digital, SDGs)

✔️ Quality & Efficiency of Implementation

Realistic work plan, timeline, and deliverables
Clear governance and task distribution
Feasible and justified budget

👉 Proposals must meet minimum thresholds (≈10/15 total) and ≥3 per criterion to be fundable

🧠 2. Consortium Strength (Top Empirical Predictor)

From large-scale studies of EU Framework grants:

Key factors:

Prior EU funding experience (very strong predictor)
High scientific reputation / excellence of partners
Strong existing collaborations (network familiarity)
High “network visibility” in EU research ecosystem

Structural advantages:

Balanced consortium (academia + industry + SMEs)
Inclusion of well-established Western EU institutions
Application-oriented collaborations perform better

👉 This is one of the most consistently proven predictors across studies

🌍 3. Strategic Consortium Composition

Successful proposals often show:

Multidisciplinary & cross-sector teams
Inclusion of:
- Universities
- Industry/SMEs
- Public or non-profit organizations
Alignment of partner roles with project objectives

👉 “Triangular collaboration” (academia + industry + research orgs) is common in funded projects

📊 4. Strong Alignment with Call Topic

Precise match with call scope and expected outcomes
Explicit referencing of:
- Work Programme priorities
- EU missions / policy goals
Avoid “generic” proposals

👉 Misalignment is a major reason for rejection (even for strong science)

📑 5. Proposal Quality & Compliance

Critical but often underestimated predictors:

Full compliance with:
- Formatting rules
- Page limits
- Mandatory annexes
Clear, readable, structured writing
Inclusion of ethics, gender, and data management plans

👉 Administrative errors can lead to automatic rejection

💰 6. Budget Credibility

Budget must be:
- Realistic
- Justified per work package
- Linked to outputs

👉 Weak or inflated budgets reduce evaluation scores

⏳ 7. Preparation Time & Proposal Development

Successful consortia typically:
- Start 6–8 months in advance
- Iterate drafts and internal reviews
Proposal preparation often requires 2–3 person-months effort

📈 8. Experience with Evaluation Process

Understanding scoring system and evaluator mindset is crucial
Key predictors:
- Prior submissions (even unsuccessful ones)
- Use of experienced coordinators or consultants

👉 Studies show success depends on both:

Excellent idea
Understanding evaluation system

📉 9. Success Rate Context (Competitiveness)

Average success rate ≈ 16% in Horizon Europe

👉 Meaning: even strong proposals fail → optimization of all predictors is essential

🧩 Summary: Most Important Predictors (Ranked)

Highest impact factors:

Strong consortium (experience + reputation)
Clear impact (policy + societal relevance)
Excellence of idea

Moderate but critical:
4. Implementation quality
5. Call alignment
6. Budget credibility

Supporting factors:
7. Proposal writing quality & compliance
8. Early preparation
9. Familiarity with EU evaluation process

💡 Practical Insight

The biggest shift from Horizon 2020 → Horizon Europe is:

👉 Impact is now as important (or more) than scientific excellence

Specialties

Environmental Health

Others

Eligibility Requirements

General conditions

1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout

described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible countries

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligibility Conditions

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: European Commission

Sponsor Type: Government/Federal

Address: Berlaymont Building, Rue de la Loi 200, 1040 Brussels

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