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OPINION (COM(2025)0543 – C100164/2025 – 2025/0543(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, for the period 2028-2034 laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/695

AGRI-AD-782309

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: BertJan Ruissen

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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gives its opinion on the proposed Horizon Europe regulation for 2028-2034, proposing amendments to the lead committee. It asks that funding for agriculture and food security research keep its share of the programme, proposing EUR 31.5 billion for the merged Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy chapter and ring-fencing at least half of it. It proposes a multi-actor approach so farmers and end-users take part throughout the research cycle, with compensation for their time and fair data conditions. The amendments add food security, agriculture and rural concerns across the recitals, objectives, work programmes, funding rates and evaluation rules.

Committee position. The Committee proposes amendments to the Horizon Europe proposal to keep agriculture and food security funding at its current proportional share, ring-fence half of the merged chapter for agriculture, food and food security, and require a multi-actor approach involving farmers throughout research.

Key points

  1. Calls for long-term stable funding for agriculture and food security research and for closing the gap between research results and on-farm use.
  2. Notes that under Horizon Europe 2021-2027 the Health and Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment clusters together were 18% of the budget.
  3. States the Commission proposal merges these areas into one chapter with EUR 19.6 billion, around 11% of the proposed EUR 175 billion total.
  4. Proposes EUR 31.5 billion for the Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy chapter to keep the same proportional share, and to earmark half for agriculture, food security and bioeconomy.
  5. Proposes a multi-actor approach involving farmers and end-users throughout the research cycle, with compensation for their time, expertise and operational contributions and fair data conditions.
  6. Amends the objectives to add food security, food availability, resilience of the primary sector, generational renewal, precision farming and reduced strategic dependencies.
  7. Amends the budget article to set EUR 31 500 000 000 for the chapter, at least half ring-fenced for agriculture, food and food security as a binding minimum.
  8. Requires the multi-actor approach in work programmes and calls for agriculture, food and food security research, and makes it mandatory for collaborative research in these areas.
  9. Requires support for farmers' participation costs and transparent, fair conditions for access, use and reuse of data generated through their participation.
  10. Adds animal health, water resilience, antimicrobial resistance, vaccine technologies and soil health as research areas, and provides for an animal health EU Mission.
  11. Allows farmers, fishers and end-user organisations a funding rate of up to 100% of eligible costs, and calls for simplified, proportionate application procedures for small entities.
  12. Requires evaluation to consider projects' impact on producers' income, stability of food production and sustainability of rural and coastal areas, and dissemination to AKIS networks and advisory services.

Who is affected

  • Farmers and primary producers: to be involved as partners throughout research, with compensation and fair data conditions.
  • Agricultural cooperatives, farmers' organisations, advisory services and rural small entities: simplified procedures and up to 100% funding rates.
  • The Commission: to involve Member States and stakeholders in work programmes and apply the multi-actor approach.
  • Widening and transition countries: capacity-building measures and support for agricultural research capacity.
  • SMEs, farmers and rural actors: simpler application procedures and support for knowledge transfer.

Figures and deadlines

  • 18% of Horizon Europe 2021-2027 allocated to the Health and Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment clusters.
  • EUR 19.6 billion proposed indicative allocation for the merged Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy chapter.
  • Around 11% of the proposed total programme budget of EUR 175 billion.
  • EUR 31.5 billion proposed to maintain the proportional share for the chapter.
  • At least 50% of the chapter's resources to be ring-fenced for agriculture, food and food security.
  • EUR 31 500 000 000 for collaborative research under Chapter V, at least half ring-fenced.
  • EUR 16 262 000 000 for Part IV 'European Research Area', of which at least EUR 5 387 000 000 for widening participation.
  • Up to 100% of eligible costs reimbursed for farmers, fishers and end-user organisations; up to 70% for for-profit entities.

Legal basis: Articles 173(3), 182(1), 183, 188, second subparagraph, Article 322(1), point (a) and Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.