Europe needs to diversify protein sources to decrease its dependence on imports and the environmental footprint often associated with animal-based proteins. In line with the Farm to Fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system and the European Green Deal priorities, successful proposals will support the mobilisation of proteins for food, feed, and non-food bio-based applications.
Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Activities are expected to achieve TRL 5 by the end of the project – see Horizon Europe General Annex B.
Expected EU contribution per project: It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 4.5 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.
Scope:The growing world population requires an increase in affordable protein supply. However, this cannot be realised by depleting limited natural resources (land, water, nutrients[1], etc.), which are already under strong pressure globally and in the EU. Today’s largest source of protein for human consumption is based on farm animals, which often involve multiple sustainability issues. Moreover, low-grade or speciality proteins not suitable for food or feed applications could serve as feedstock for the bio-based industry. However, the extraction and purification of such streams are difficult, especially from unconventional sources.
Proposals under this topic should:
Depending on the chosen source, the projects may propose necessary technical options for sustainable intensification of production, e.g., development of new varieties, and/or cultivation practice, in line with all relevant legal EU and national frameworks, to enable future scale-up[7]. Environmental side-benefits should be duly considered, if relevant, e.g., carbon storage potentials, soil health etc.
Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of all key actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, such as primary producers, in the bio-based systems. Please see the section Additional requirements in the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2022[8] for more details.
Cross-cutting Priorities:Ocean sustainability and blue economy
[1]Nutrients can come from natural sources but are not a natural resource per se.
[2]Including physico/chemical technologies and biotechnologies
[3]Including filamentous fungi and yeasts
[4]Including micro- and macroalgae (seaweeds)
[5]for a description of the term, see annex Glossary in the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2022 (https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents)
[6]E.g., projects FARMYNG, PLENITUDE etc.
[7]See also a parallel topic HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022-IAFlag-02 Alternative sources for high added value food and/or feed ingredients.
[8]https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents
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