Database on alternatives to pesticides (emergency authorisations)
Database on alternatives to pesticides (emergency authorisations) supports organisations in expanding and evaluating a pest-control alternatives database to inform emergency authorisation assessments.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: November 30, 2026 (Clarification questions) | December 2, 2026 (EFSA replies) | December 8, 2026, 17:00 CET (Proposals)
Funding Amounts: €500,000 total budget and maximum grant; up to 90% of eligible costs for up to 24 months
Summary: EFSA supports expansion, review and publication of a database evaluating pesticide alternatives for emergency authorisation assessments.
Key Information: Applicants and consortium partners must be on EFSA’s Article 36 competent organisations list by the submission deadline.
Description
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) runs this call under the EU Bodies and Agencies programme. It funds expansion and review of an existing inventory of alternative pest-control methods, alongside evaluation of their effectiveness and applicability using EFSA’s emergency authorisation protocols. The work supports assessment of emergency authorisations under Article 53 of Regulation (EU) 1107/2009.
The project must cover at least 50 pest species across arthropods, nematodes, fungi, plant-pathogenic bacteria, viruses and weeds, with the final list agreed with EFSA. Searches should address non-chemical alternatives, integrated pest management, organic farming practices, preventive measures including plant breeding, and measures operating beyond individual fields. The work also includes evaluating combinations of measures, inventorying relevant research projects and publishing the database. Its wider uses include sustainable pesticide policy, practitioner decision support, knowledge transfer and identifying research needs.
