BMBF: Funding of international collaborative projects within the framework of the National Bioeconomy Strategy “Contributions to Sustainable and Resilient Agricultural and Food Systems

Information:

• The Coordination and Support Action (CSA) “Green ERA-Hub” was launched by the European Commission in September 2022.
• The Green ERA Hub represents 15 EU initiatives in the fields of agriculture, food production and biotechnology.

Aim of the promotion

• The goal of the Green ERA-Hub is to implement a bioeconomy based on renewable raw materials.
• It aims to increase the productivity and quality of food, feed, fuel and fiber.
• The Green ERA Hub aims to minimize adverse biotic and abiotic factors.
• Transnational research projects are being conducted to improve the sustainability and resilience of processes and systems.
• The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture are involved in the Green ERA Hub.
• The aim is to achieve the goals of the National Bioeconomy Strategy and to strengthen European and international research funding.
• Resource-conserving approaches to agriculture and food production are important for a successful bioeconomy.
• Reduction of fertilizer use, recovery of fertilizer substances and biological cultivation strategies are key approaches.
• Sustainable production systems are important for sovereignty and self-sufficiency in the European Union.
• Self-sufficiency in protein-based food and feed is an overarching goal.
• New concepts and innovations for protein production and utilization are strategically essential.
• Funded collaborative projects are to contribute to the implementation of the National Bioeconomy Strategy and support the internationalization of science and research.

Subject of the promotion

• The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding international collaborative projects to implement the National Bioeconomy Strategy.
• Funding is provided as part of a competition for research, development and innovation projects
• Focus areas include improving efficiency in fertilizer use and increasing European self-sufficiency in protein-based food and feed products
• Innovative processes for the recovery of fertilizer substances will be developed to increase the efficiency of fertilizer use, as will agricultural production strategies to reduce fertilizer use.
• To increase self-sufficiency in protein-based food and feed, concepts for optimal use of feed protein, protein recovery from residues and development of new protein sources are being researched
• All projects should consider resource use, emissions reduction, yield, product quality, human nutrition, and profitability

• Transnational collaborative projects with at least three partners from at least three participating partner countries are funded
• The projects should be implementable within a maximum of 36 months and have a balanced volume of work between the international partners

Period of validity

• The Funding Guideline shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Federal Gazette.
• The term of the funding guideline ends on June 30, 2024, based on the aid law basis of the GBER (General Block Exemption Regulation) plus an adjustment period of six months.
• If the AGVO is extended without relevant changes to its content, the term of the funding guideline will also be extended accordingly, but not beyond December 31, 2031.
• If the GBER is not extended or undergoes relevant changes in content, a new funding guideline will be put into effect in accordance with the exemption provisions then in effect until at least December 31, 2031.