AGROECOLOGY Partnership Opens 3rd Co-Funded Call for Proposals: Funding Opportunities for Agroecological Research and Farmer-Led Innovation (2025–2026)

 

AGROECOLOGY Partnership Opens 3rd Co-Funded Call for Proposals: Funding Opportunities for Agroecological Research and Farmer-Led Innovation (2025–2026)

The AGROECOLOGY Partnership has launched its 3rd co-funded call, inviting researchers, farmers, innovators, and organizations to submit proposals that advance the agroecological transition across Europe and beyond. This new call places strong emphasis on two essential pillars for transforming agricultural systems: strengthening genetic diversity and empowering farmers as central drivers of agroecological change.

For those working in sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, ecological research, or grassroots innovation, this call represents a significant opportunity to secure funding for high-impact Research and Innovation (R&I) projects.

Call Theme

“Fostering plant and animal genetic diversity and empowering farmers to accelerate the agroecological transition.”

The 2026 co-funded call focuses on two priority topics designed to promote ecological, social, and economic sustainability in agriculture.

Topic 1 — Enhancing Genetic Diversity in Crops and Livestock

This topic supports projects aimed at expanding the genetic variability of plants and animals to improve resilience, productivity, and sustainability within agroecological systems.

Areas of interest include:

• Crop and livestock genetic diversity

• Climate-resilient varieties and breeds

• Innovative and sustainable breeding approaches

• Biodiversity-centered farming practices

Topic 2 — Empowering Farmers in the Agroecological Transition

This topic focuses on strengthening farmers' capacities to adopt, test, refine, and co-develop agroecological methods.

Key areas include:

• Farmer-driven innovation

• Community-based and traditional knowledge

• Participatory research approaches

• On-farm experimentation and co-design

Expected Impacts

Successful proposals should contribute directly to practical agroecology implementation. Funded projects are expected to deliver:

• Practical tools, knowledge, and innovations for farmers and agricultural stakeholders

• Greater capacity among farmers and institutions to apply agroecological practices

• Improved environmental and socio-economic performance in farming systems

• Enhanced science-policy collaboration to support wider adoption

Submission Process and Deadlines

The call follows a two-step evaluation process, and submission of a pre-proposal is mandatory.

Pre-Proposal Deadline:
18 February 2026 at 14:00 CET

Full Proposal Deadline:
08 July 2026 at 14:00 CEST

Important notes:

• Only the project coordinator can submit the proposal via the online system.

• All partners must create and complete their individual profiles.

• A partnering tool with more than 100 entries is available to support consortium-building.

Applicant Webinar

A dedicated webinar will walk applicants through the call requirements and submission process.

Date: 10 December 2025
Time: 10:00–13:00 CET

Webinar Access: HERE

Recordings and presentation slides will be made available afterward.

Where to Access Call Documents

All official documents — including the Call Announcement (v1.1, 08 Dec 2025) and Funder Regulations (v1.1, 05 Dec 2025) — are available in the CALL DOCUMENTS section of the submission portal. Applicants are encouraged to check regularly for updates.

Need Assistance?

For country-specific questions on eligibility or funding rules, applicants should contact their national funder.

For general inquiries about the call, the Call Office can be reached at:
ptj-agroecology-call-office@ptj.de

Why This Call Is Important

As agriculture confronts climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and rising food insecurity, agroecology offers a pathway toward systems that are:

• Biodiverse

• Resilient

• Climate-smart

• Socially equitable

• Centered around farmers and local knowledge

This call supports the research and collaborations needed to accelerate that transition.

Ready to Apply?

The submission system is now open. Researchers, farmers, and organizations are encouraged to begin preparing their pre-proposals.

Submit Here