Fostering animal breeding and genetics for climate change adaptation and mitigation, improved robustness and resilience

The main goal of this opportunity is to support advancements in animal breeding and genetics to help agriculture adapt to and mitigate climate change. The focus is on selecting animals with traits that make them better suited to different environments and production systems, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Projects are encouraged to develop new tools for measuring how animals respond to their environments, demonstrate breeding programs that improve animal robustness and resilience, and analyze the cost-effectiveness of breeding for climate-related traits. This initiative supports sustainable farming, biodiversity, and climate-neutrality, with a particular emphasis on international cooperation and synergies across Europe and beyond.

• Projects must follow the required page limits and layout as outlined in the application guidelines.
• Each project must use a multi-actor approach, involving stakeholders such as researchers, farmers, breeders, policy makers, and industry representatives.
• Applicants need to demonstrate both financial and operational capacity to carry out the project.
• Proposals are assessed based on defined evaluation criteria and thresholds.
• Costs must be structured as a lump sum, following the program's financial guidelines.
• Projects should include plans and resources for collaboration with other funded initiatives and promote international cooperation.

Examples:

• A project that develops a breeding program for cattle with lower methane emissions, involving local farmers, geneticists, and technology providers.
• A partnership between research institutes and breeders to create tools for measuring how sheep respond to changing climates in Eastern Europe.
• An international consortium analyzing the economic benefits of breeding pigs for resilience to heat stress, with input from industry and policymakers.

• Personnel costs for researchers, breeders, and technical staff
• Purchase of equipment and laboratory materials
• Costs for field trials and demonstration activities
• Travel and accommodation for project meetings and international cooperation
• Subcontracting services for specialized tasks
• Outreach, dissemination, and communication activities
• Training and capacity-building workshops
• Data collection, analysis, and management tools
• Coordination and management of project activities

Note: All expenses must fit within the lump sum funding model. Detailed restrictions and requirements are outlined in the program guidance.

• Budget for this Call: 12.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 2
• Budget per project: 6.000.000€

• Projects must use a multi-actor approach, involving diverse stakeholders such as researchers, farmers, breeders, industry, and policy makers.
• Applicants must be established in EU Member States or Associated Countries. Some non-EU/non-Associated Countries may participate if they have made special funding arrangements.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial and operational capacity to carry out the proposed activities.
• Costs must be structured as a lump sum, following the program's financial rules.
• Proposals should actively involve stakeholders in livestock breeding and management.
• International collaboration is encouraged, especially with countries under the EU-Africa Partnership and other global initiatives.