Large investment in European Commission Horizon 2020 Work Programme

The European Commission will boost research competitiveness by investing almost €16 billion in research and innovation in the next two years under Horizon 2020. This EU’s research and innovation funding scheme, following a new Work Programme for 2016-17, was adopted on October 13, 2015. One of the main research topics is Sustainable Food Security. 

In line with Commissioner Moedas’ strategic priorities, Horizon 2020 will be open to innovation, science, and the world. The new Work Programme 2016-17 offers funding opportunities through a range of calls for proposals, public procurements and other actions like the Horizon Prizes, together covering nearly 600 topics. The programme’s structure is a reflection of the overall flexibility of Horizon 2020 which focuses on the EU’s long-term priorities and the most pressing societal challenges while allowing it to swiftly address emerging problems such as outbreaks of diseases.

In Agriculture & Food, one of the main research topics is Sustainable Food Security – resilient and resource efficient value chains. Three complementary topics will support the implementation of the EU-AFRICA Partnership of Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture:

1. EU-Africa Research and Innovation partnership on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.
2. Promoting food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture in Africa: the role of innovation.
3. Earth observation services for the monitoring of agricultural production in Africa.

For more information, see Call identifier H2020-SFS-2016-2017 “Sustainable Food Security – resilient and resource efficient value chains“.

Brussels info-week

On November 24 to 27 the Brussels info-week is organized to learn more about the new Horizon 2020 work programme 2016/2017 for Societal Challenge 2: Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, maritime and martime inland water research and bio-economy.

The info-week will start with a workshop on the multi-actor approach and thematic networks, on November 24 , followed by the Infoday on November 25, and a brokerage event on November 26.