Uncovering lock-ins and levers to encourage farmers to move to and stay in sustainable, climate-neutral and biodiversity-friendly farming systems: from experiments to systemic mechanisms
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Proposals should support the development of policies, business models and market conditions that enable sustainable, productive and climate-smart agricultural systems. The farming systems should provide consumers with healthy and sustainable food affordable for all, improving public health, minimising pressure on ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and generating fair economic returns for farmers.
Detailed Call Description
Proposals should investigate farmers’ decision-making (behaviour) and the broader food systems in which they have to operate, so as to uncover what locks them into unsustainable practices and what incentivises them to move to and stay in sustainable production systems. Attention should be paid to the full range of decision-making factors and food systems’ structures, mechanisms and dynamics. Proposals should analyse behaviour (decision-making) of other food system actors and their role in/influence on hindering or incentivising farmers’ decisions as to whether to adopt and maintain sustainable practices in the long-term. Also, they should analyse consumers’ preferences, decision-making and shopping behaviour, in particular looking at market segmentation and willingness to pay versus buying acts, in various contexts. This knowledge should be shared broadly with farmers. In addition, proposals should explore the behaviour and actions of downstream and upstream operators in agri-food value chains and other relevant food system actors that lock farmers in unsustainable practices or enable/encourage them to adopt sustainable practices and stimulate or hinder consumer demand for more sustainable food. Proposals should also consider the ‘whole-systems’ in which farmers operate and analyse the systemic mechanisms, structures and dynamics that lock farmers into unsustainable states.
Concurrent research should be conducted using the same methods in a variety of settings representative of the diversity in agri-food systems and conditions in the EU and Associated Countries various agroecological approaches and organic farming, sectors/value chains, collective actions, regions and communities, etc.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
EU contribution per project: €4,00 million
Thematic Categories
- Agriculture - Farming - Forestry
- Environment and Climate Change
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Rural development
Eligibility for Participation
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
Eligibility For Participation Notes
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding. The JRC in the project would consist of being involved in the selection of policies, business models and market conditions to be tested.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
Strovolos Avenue 123, 2042 Nicosia, Cyprus, P.O.Box 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/
Dr Angelos Ntantos
Scientific Officer
Telephone: 35722205033
Email: antantos@research.org.cy
Dr Ioannis Theodorou
Scientific Officer
Telephone: 35722205038
Email: itheodorou@research.org.cy
(Publish Date: 25/08/2021-for internal use only)