Solutions to Ukraine: EU grants funding agriculture development in Ukraine

The European Union provides grants for developing agricultural and food industries in Ukraine.

This is reported on the website of the European Commission.

What is the problem?

The war caused considerable losses to the Ukrainian economy. In particular, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the agricultural industry lost up to $6 billion as a result of russia's military aggression.

About 30% of agricultural land was occupied or in the zone of active hostilities. Crops, machinery, and granaries were destroyed.

What is the solution?

This competition aims to foster the development of solutions that will help create a sustainable agricultural and food production system resistant to environmental and social violations. Participants are challenged to create new technologies, equipment, and materials based on renewable agriculture principles and develop innovative technologies that can support and improve the production of agricultural and food products.

How does it work?

Organizers of this competition are searching for proposals with pioneering innovations that could revolutionize fertilization, crop protection, irrigation, and soil management practices in a way that surpasses what is currently in place.

It is noted that solutions should be easy to scale and/or replicate in different environmental conditions.

Specific goals of this competition:

• development and expansion of interdisciplinary solutions for regenerative agriculture and soil health in the regions;
• sustainable application of fertilizers;
• protection of crops according to the principles of integrated pest control with an emphasis on mechanical/physical and biological measures;
• management, protection, and restoration of soils;
• crop production and livestock management;
• new processes, materials, equipment, management practices, and microorganisms adapted to harsh environments, climate adaptation needs, and resource scarcity, including crop diversification, mixed farming systems, inter-seasonal crops, and technologies to enhance crop adaptation to climate change.

Financing of the grant competition includes grants from 500,000 to 17,500,000 euros.

An application can be submitted on the EIC Accelerator website.

The deadline for applications is 07 June 2023 at 17:00 Brussels time.