Expected Outcome: 

The successful proposal will align with the European Green Deal priorities and the farm-to-fork strategy, promoting a fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system. This topic aligns with the overall challenges highlighted in the updated Food 2030 Pathways for Action 2.0 report, particularly in the "Future Food Safety Systems" pathway. This report was published in December 2023 by the European Commission. 

Proposals should contribute to all of the following aspects:

• In the areas of food safety and food fraud, a lot of efforts have been invested in European framework programme projects, generating knowledge and potential applications. Proposals should contribute further to develop existing knowledge and technological results in the areas to reach higher TRLs aligned with users’ needs, and estimate the possible impact on cost for the consumers;

• Support innovation to foster advances along the food system, implementing digital and technological solutions in high TRLs covering existing food safety and/or food fraud gaps. Proposals should develop and implement innovative solutions close to the market. 

• Identify existing regulations and give recommendations about which technologies could use sandboxes to foster future commercialisation.

Applicants should seek complementarities and leverage on the results of past and ongoing research and innovation projects (including projects under the same topic) in the areas of food safety and/or food fraud (i.e., HORIZON-CL6-2023-FARM2FORK-01-12,HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-01-3, HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-01-4 among others).

Therefore, proposals should include a dedicated task, appropriate resources, and a plan on how they should collaborate with other ongoing projects under this theme. In the case of already completed projects, applicants will define the best way to engage relevant stakeholders and the cooperation agreements (including those related to technology transfer and intellectual property) that are necessary.

Governmental and food safety regulatory authorities (e.g., EFSA) should, alongside other stakeholders (such as startups, SMEs, and investors), be involved. The multi-actor approach applies to this topic. Proposals are encouraged to consider, where relevant, the services offered by European research infrastructures such as METROFOOD-RI (the infrastructure for promoting metrology in food and nutrition) or other appropriate research infrastructures.

Proposals are also encouraged to consider citizens' and societal engagement in their activities for the implementation of technological results that are better aligned with consumers’ needs. To achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged.

In total, two projects will be funded, with the European Union providing the funding.

Budget per project: Around € 6.000.000,00

Call deadline:  4 Sep 2025 / 18 Feb 2026 17:00 CET

Funding rate 

• IA: 70% (100% non-profit) - TRL: 8

Making food systems more resilient to food safety risks through the deployment of technological solutions

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-03-two-stage