The EU has published the Horizon 2020 (RTD funding) draft (not yet officially validated) work programme 2016-2017, including SC2 (societal challenge) covering food security, agriculture and forestry, marine and inland water and the bioeconomy. Food security in the context of resource scarcities, sustainability, territorial development and employment and growth in the bioeconomy are identified as priorities, emphasising stakeholder involvement. Several specific challenges directly refer to nutrient management:
- stresses in crop production (nutrient and water use efficiency NUE and WUE) – SFS-01-2016
- closing loops at the farm and regional level, focus on C, N and P cycling, including improving agro-ecosystem nutrient efficiency, plant – animal interfaces, addressing consumption patterns and waste – SFS-30-2017
- resource efficient urban agriculture (EU – China partnership), including closing nutrient cycles and efficient nutrient use – SFS-48-2017
- nutrient recycling, within the theme large-scale algae biomass integrated biorefineries – BG-01-2016
- sustainable seafood safety and dietary properties, includes processing of marine and aquaculture-derived nutrients – BG-08-2017
- public-private partnerships (PPP) in the bioeconomy, including nutrient recycling (SGA ERA-NET food security prize 2017)
The above specific (proposed) calls are in addition to horizontal funding such as SME instrument, thematic networks, on-farm demonstrations, or calls covering wider themes which also cover nutrient stewardship, such as “Resiliant and resource efficient value-chains” or “bio-based markets of the future”.
“Draft Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2016-2017 in the area of Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy”
Please follow this link to get to the Horizon 2020 draft work programmes 2016-17