Cluster 6 will steer and accelerate the transition towards sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems, in order to ensure that the objectives of the Farm to Fork strategy are achieved effectively. It will notably empower farmers, fishermen and aquaculture producers to transform their production methods more quickly and efficiently and make the best use of nature-based, technological, digital or social innovations. This will deliver better climate mitigation and environmental results, increase climate resilience, reduce dependency on pesticides, antimicrobials and excess fertilisation, while providing consumers with affordable, safe, nutritious, healthy and sustainable food. R&I will also stimulate practices at all stages of the food system from processing to services, thereby ensuring safe and sustainable food and facilitating a shift to sustainable and healthy diets. R&I will also support the design, implementation and monitoring of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy and the EU General Food Law.
Improved knowledge and innovations will be key to the success of the Zero-Pollution Ambition of the European Green Deal, as a means of halting and preventing pollution and thereby addressing issues concerning fresh and marine waters, soils, nutrients as well as the environmental performance of processes. R&I will support EU environmental legislation and policies, including the Nature Directives, the Pollinators Initiative, the revised Soil Thematic Strategy and the EU Water Framework Directive as well as the Maritime Policy and the EU Arctic Policy, by targeting a higher level of protection for biodiversity, soil, water, air and marine resources.
The Cluster will support the development of resilient and vibrant rural, coastal and urban areas in line with the priority "An economy that works for people". It will develop new governance models to implement the Green Deal initiatives and will ensure that no-one is left behind. This is a necessity if we are to ensure a fair and just transition. Advantage will be taken of the use, uptake and deployment of Environmental Observation as well as of digital solutions that are in keeping with the EU priority "A Europe fit for the digital age". The opportunities that exist under the post-Covid-19 crisis recovery package will be seized, so as to set the economy on a path towards sustainable development in line with the UN 2030 Agenda.
Cluster 6 activities will sustain the ambition of the EU on an international stage in areas of paramount importance such as biodiversity, climate change, the management of natural resources, sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security.
Under the work programme 2023-2024, the following 7 destinations are foreseen:
Destination 1 – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Destination 2 – Fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption
Destination 3 – Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
Destination 4 – Clean environment and zero pollution
Destination 5 – Land, oceans and water for climate action
Destination 6 – Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities
Destination 7 – Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal
The cluster 6 work programme 2023-2024 is published.
The Cluster 6 'Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment' EC Infoday for the 2023 Calls for Proposals took place on 13-14 December 2022, the Brokerage Event on 19 December 2022.
The presentations of the EC Info day 13-14/12/2022 
are available.
The Calls for Proposals 2023 are closed, no open calls for the moment.
- Factsheet EU Research and Innovation for Evidence-based Policy-Making on Health Impacts of environmental factors
- CARE4BIO, NCP network cluster 6 Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
- Partnerschips in cluster 6: see CARE4BIO website
- Missions in cluster 6: see CARE4BIO website
- Find Your EU Funding Programme for the Environment
+32 2 238 37 43