The main objective of this call for proposals is to support both preparatory and implementation actions for the establishment and development of new 'European Agri-food Sustainability Cluster Partnerships' supporting the implementation of the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices by SMEs. The call focuses specifically on boosting the uptake by SMEs of resource-efficiency technologies and countering food inflation in the EU. This call for proposals is targeting food processing SMEs (including food and drink producers) in the middle part of the agri-food value-chain. While acknowledging the importance of working closely with partners, including farmers, primary agricultural producers and the retail part of the agri-food value-chain are not directly targeted by the support of this action.

Moreover, the call for proposals has the following sub-objectives:

• Networking: to identify and strengthen existing agri-food industry support organisations of different types and maturity levels and network them together.
• Upgrading: to support the development of agri-food cluster organisations in more EU regions, building on existing industry support organisations, with the objective that those organisations support better the resource-efficiency and the sustainability transition of their SMEs.
• Capacity-building: to create and maintain long-term sustainability expertise in agri-food clusters, industry support organisations and technology centres on all objectives of the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, with a view to establishing operational capacity to support SMEs on the Code of Conduct implementation.

Budget

The available call budget is EUR 3 000 000. It is expected to fund between 3 to 5 proposals under this call.

Submission and Annex 5

Applications must be submitted on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

Annex 5 to Part B - Eligibility checklist - to be uploaded under ‘Other annexes’ field.

Find more information on a potential info session here.

Apply here now!

Deadline: 28 September 2023 17:00:00 Brussels time