Descrição

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-13

Expected Outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Enhanced capacity of agricultural actors in Africa to sustainably manage plant pest risks, supporting food security while addressing climate and biodiversity challenges.
• Agricultural actors are able to identify and implement practices that prevent and reduce crop losses caused by plant pests, both pre-harvest and during storage.

Scope

Plant pests affecting crops in the field or during storage represent a major challenge to food security in Africa, causing significant losses and impacting local markets and trade. It is essential to address these challenges using integrated approaches that promote agricultural sustainability, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation.

Proposals should:

• Advance knowledge of the biology, disease mechanisms, spread dynamics, and climate change impacts of key plant pests across different African agro-ecosystems.
• Develop cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and consumer-safe methods, tools, and strategies for the sustainable management of the most impactful plant pests in Africa, aiming to minimize crop losses both before harvest and during storage.
• Promote agroecological integrated pest management practices to reduce the impact of plant pests.
• Improve productivity and product quality in African agricultural systems by minimizing pest-related losses.

Insects, weeds, fungi, bacteria, and viruses that damage crops are considered plant pests. Applicants are expected to justify the choice of pest(s) based on alignment with the proposal objectives and the topic’s expected outcomes.

Actions funded under this topic support EU policies including the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food and the Global Gateway strategy, contribute to the AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation, and align with R&I partnerships on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) and Climate Change and Sustainable Energy. Projects also support the climate objectives of the African Union and the EU and the commitments of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Proposals should:

• Contribute to implementing short- and medium-term actions outlined in the AU-EU Innovation Agenda within the Green Transition priority area. This includes short-term action (4) and medium-term actions (1) and (3), translating R&I efforts into tangible business, products, services, and employment opportunities in Africa and Europe.
• When relevant, connect with Regional Multi-actor Research Networks on Agroecology supported by the European Commission in Africa.
• Implement a multi-actor approach to ensure active involvement of public authorities, advisory services, farmer organizations, and industry stakeholders.
• Adopt an inclusive approach that integrates local knowledge and practices alongside scientific and technological expertise, allowing indigenous insights to be enriched through innovative approaches and new technologies via mutual learning.