The call is relevant for cities and regions that are looking to develop a Circular Solution around Bio-based and biodegradable delivery systems for fertilising products to reduce microplastics pollution & promote soil health . This call requires projects to contribute to scalable, safe and sustainable bio-based biodegradable delivery systems of fertilising products, with potential spillover effect on other additional inputs applicable to agriculture, with the potential of replacing conventional delivery systems, as reliable alternatives for farmers.Project must implement a multi-actor approach, by engaging with farmers to develop, co-create and test the newly established delivery systems and analyse the effects on plant development, soil health and water.

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 circular and sustainable production processes for novel bio-based and biodegradable delivery system(s) for fertilising products. In addition, assess the applicability/adaptability of the delivery system(s) to additional possible agricultural inputs such as pesticides and seeds. Proposals should validate the delivery system(s) for fertilising products (lab-scale and/or small-scale field trials), ensuring agronomic efficiency, safety, scalability and sustainability with similar or improved properties compared to conventional systems and assess the long-term effect and biodegradability of delivery system(s) when applied in natural soil conditions, applying standard tests, methods and protocols. Biodegradabilityrelated aspects should also be monitored and assessed in fresh, estuarine or marine water.

The total indicative budget for the topic 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 9-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: 3 April 2025

Call deadline: 18 September 2025 17:00 CET