Horizon Europe - Horizontal Activities Biodiversity call 2026

Horizontal call - Transformative change towards nature-positive economy and society

This call will mostly support the EU Commission priority ‘Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature’.

The spending target for biodiversity (10%) for the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 was not reached as biodiversity mainstreaming was not sufficient. This call has the objective to reach this target by supporting additional R&I activities dedicated to biodiversity across pillar II of Horizon Europe. 

R&I activities are expected to develop knowledge and innovation supporting the objectives of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030[1] and the EU vision for 2050 outlined in the 8^th environment action programme[2]. They will contribute to mainstream biodiversity action in the Union’s policies. Project results will inform deliberations on the EU biodiversity policy after 2030.

The call addresses the need for sustained effort to restore ecosystems with activities to support the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation[3]. It also aims to contribute to the European Water Resilience Strategy[4], the EU Forest Strategy and the European Ocean Pact[5], with particular attention to concepts proposed in the Nature Credits Roadmap[6] and to upgraded monitoring methods.

R&I activities will support climate-resilient farming, fishing and aquaculture where they achieve an additional benefit compared to current biodiversity-friendly practices, contributing to nature restoration in alignment with the Vision for Agriculture and Food[7], the Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture towards 2040[8], as well as with the environmental objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy[9]. The call will foster better knowledge and tools to drive biodiversity-friendly food production and bioeconomy - in line with the Strategy for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy[10].

R&I activities will support innovation for the implementation of the EU regulation on invasive alien species[11] and the EU action plan against wildlife trafficking[12].

[1] Biodiversity strategy for 2030 - European Commission

[2] Environment Action Programme (EAP) to 2030 - Environment

[3] Regulation - EU - 2024/1991 - EN - EUR-Lex

[4] Water resilience strategy - European Commission

[5] The European Ocean Pact - European Commission

[6] EUR-Lex - 52025DC0374 - EN - EUR-Lex

[7] Vision for Agriculture and Food - European Commission

[8] EUR-Lex - 52025DC0075 - EN - EUR-Lex

[9] Key policy objectives of the CAP 2023-27 - European Commission

[10] Bioeconomy Strategy - Environment - European Commission

[11] Invasive alien species - Environment - European Commission

[12] ENV - Revised EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking, adopted on 11 November 2022