The call is relevant for cities and regions that are looking to develop a CSS in which food and feed value chains are of importance. Human and animal nutrition are key areas where bio-based industries can play a role in addressing the pressing societal and climate challenges. The call therefore asks for the pilot scale development, and validation of innovative bio-based food and/or feed ingredients that are safe and more sustainable alternatives to the current (animal derived) ingredients. Project must implement a multi-actor approach, ensuring the involvement of key actors in the value chain, such as farmers, feedstock providers, bio-based industry and regulatory actors. Moreover, end users need to be involved in early development stages to assess the consumer and market acceptance of the developed solutions.
 

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.

Proposals should develop innovative food and/or feed ingredients from sustainably sourced bio-based feedstock. The innovation in scope can be related to breakthrough processes for obtaining known and/or new food/feed ingredients. Ingredients in scope of the call, among others, are: bioactive compounds; antioxidants; prebiotics; postbiotics; vitamins; peptides; oligosaccharides; fats; emulsifiers; taste; texture; palatability and digestibility enhancers; colourants; and functional/’precision proteins’. The production of bulk proteins, fibres and carbohydrates used as main nutritional component is not in scope per se; however, the development of complex food and feed formulations involving the application of innovative functional ingredients working in synergy with them is in scope. Any production technique is in scope. Circular solutions, e.g. exploiting residual streams, are also in scope and could provide additional socioenvironmental benefits.

Total indicative budget is EUR 7 million. It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 3.5 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.

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.

Call launch: 24 April 2024

Call deadline: 18 September 2024 17:00 CET