HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IAFlag-01 Bio-based value chains for valorisation of sustainable oil crops
Updated on 17.06.2024
Proposals are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
- Establishment of oil crop production systems at large scale that do not interfere with (and where applicable instead establish synergies with) food value chains through sustainable cultivation practices compatible with the objectives of biodiversity protection and restoration.
- Preservation or enhancement of soil health, soil carbon sequestration potential, soil regeneration, contributing to environmental benefits.
- Oil yield, quality and purity meeting biorefinery processing requirements (if a benchmark is available: significant increase in oil yield, quality and purity), while maximising land use efficiency, and minimising ILUC, and ensuring – at the minimum – no negative impact on the environment.
- Availability of bio-based products from targeted oil crops meeting market requirements, including via application testing.
- Significantly improved sustainability, strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness of the European bio-based industry while reducing the dependence on imported feedstock.
- Contribution to revitalisation of European rural areas across the whole value chain through cooperation between primary producers and biorefinery operators.
- Creation of ‘green’, fair and skilled jobs and new and local business opportunities. Social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.
Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions
The call is relevant for cities and regions that are looking to develop a CSS that involves the valorisation of sustainable oil crops. It is specifically relevant to cities/regions that already have existing biorefineries, or that have circular systems cantered around biorefining applications in place. The flagship call asks for mature applications in this field that focus on the demonstration of biorefinery processes using oil crops and converting them into new products. Projects need to assess the replication potential of the demonstrated value chain across Europe. To achieve this, all the key actors of such circular bio-based value chain should be included, including primary biomass producers, rural and civil society actors, bio-based industries, end-users, local communities, local and regional authorities, and education and research sectors.
Applicant criteria
All stakeholders of the bio-based industries ecosystem including public authorities can apply for CBE JU funding. CBE JU calls for project proposals are open to any legal entity, be it private or public, for-profit or not-for-profit organisation, including:
- large companies;
- small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs);
- research and technology organisations (RTOs);
- universities;
- associations.
Eligible projects/themes
Proposals should focus on large scale cultivation of low-UILS-risk oil crops, which can be established crops as well as promising crops (at least TRL6), validating sustainable agronomic practices and cultivation schemes that prove high yield/productivity maximising land use efficiency. Moreover, proposals need to demonstrate an innovative biorefinery process at a large scale, that allows for the conversion of the oils from the targeted crops into biobased SSbD chemical and materials.
Amount of funding
Total indicative budget is EUR 20 million. It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 20 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.
Application process
Cities and regions can apply for funding through the following steps. Cities and regions have to select the relevant call and draft a proposal with the required details. With the CBE JU networking platform, cities and regions can find partners to build a consortium. The proposal can be submitted using the funding and tender opportunities portal using an EU login. All the members of the consortium must have a nine-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC) to apply for funding. Draft your project proposal in the submission service section of your topic page. This link becomes available when the call opens. Fill in all the required information and submit the proposal before the call deadline.
Deadlines
Call launch: 24 April 2024
Call deadline: 18 September 2024 17:00 CET
<5 000
predominantly urban regions, intermediate and predominantly rural regions, refer to TERCET typology NUTS 3 region
