[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

September 24, 2025 (single-stage)

€6,000,000 total; one grant expected; lump sum funding

Grant to develop analytical tools and frameworks for strengthening EU farmers' bargaining power and understanding value chain dynamics in agriculture and food sectors.

--- ## Description This Horizon Europe call supports research and innovation to reinforce the position of farmers in EU agricultural and food value chains. The successful project will develop advanced analytical frameworks and empirical models to characterize the complexity, diversity, and functioning of value chains, including how costs, prices, risks, and economic values are formed, transmitted, and distributed among chain actors. The aim is to address knowledge gaps regarding market structures, price transmission, and factors influencing farmers' bargaining power, ultimately supporting fairer income distribution and enabling sustainable, resilient, and competitive farming systems. Projects should deliver: - Analytical frameworks and indicators for modeling production costs, price formation, profit margins, and unfair trading practices. - Empirical data and tools to assess farmers’ bargaining power with upstream and downstream value chain operators. - Policy and business solutions to strengthen farmers' bargaining power, including coordination approaches, data tools, and technologies for market transparency. - Dissemination materials (policy briefs, research findings, visual presentations) to facilitate uptake by policymakers and business stakeholders. Proposals must integrate social sciences and humanities and build on existing EU-funded research, ensuring synergies with related initiatives. --- ## Due Dates - Proposal submission deadline: **September 24, 2025 (17:00 Brussels time)** - Call opens: **May 6, 2025** --- ## Funding Amount - Total available: **€6,000,000** - Funding model: **Lump sum grant** - Expected number of grants: **1** - Type of action: **HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Action)** --- ## Eligibility - Open to legal entities from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. - Proposals must comply with Horizon Europe eligibility rules, including minimum consortium requirements (typically at least three independent legal entities from different eligible countries). - A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries may participate if they secure their own funding or meet specific provisions (see [Horizon Europe Programme Guide](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf)). - See full details in [Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2025/wp-14-general-annexes_horizon-2025_en.pdf). --- ## Application Process - Single-stage submission via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2025-03-GOVERNANCE-01?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=12&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate). - Prepare your proposal according to the [standard application form (HE RIA, IA)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) and follow the [Online Manual](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual). - Proposals must adhere to page limits and formatting as described in the application form and [Annex A/E](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2025/wp-14-general-annexes_horizon-2025_en.pdf). - Evaluation criteria and thresholds are detailed in [Annex D](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2025/wp-14-general-annexes_horizon-2025_en.pdf). - Lump sum funding: see [guidance](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-funding-what-do-i-need-to-know_he_en.pdf). --- ## Additional Information - Proposals should involve Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines. - Projects must ensure synergies with existing EU-funded studies and initiatives (e.g., EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory, producer organisations, fi-compass). - Dissemination of results to policy and business audiences is required. - For detailed topic conditions and requirements, consult the [official call page](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2025-03-GOVERNANCE-01?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=12&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate). --- ## External Links - [Call Topic and Submission Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2025-03-GOVERNANCE-01?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=12&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Cluster 6 Call 03 - All Topics](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/calls-for-proposals?callIdentifier=HORIZON-CL6-2025-03) - [Horizon Europe Programme Guide](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) - [Work Programme: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2025/wp-9-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment_horizon-2025_en.pdf) - [General Annexes (eligibility, evaluation, etc.)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2025/wp-14-general-annexes_horizon-2025_en.pdf) - [Online Manual for Applicants](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual) - [National Contact Points](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp) --- ## Contact Information | Resource | Link/Details | |-------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | European Commission | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) | | Research Enquiry Service| [Research Enquiry Service](https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/contact-us/research-enquiry-service_en) | | National Contact Points | [Find your NCP](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp) | | IT Helpdesk | [IT Helpdesk Contact Form](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form) | ---

Improving analytical capacity and understanding of the bargaining power and interactions of farmers with the operators of the value chains

Sign in to see full grant listing