Prioritised R&I topics for transnational funding by CORE Organic Pleiades

Summary

This deliverable D6.2 “Prioritised R&I topics for transnational funding by CORE Organic Pleiades” reports on the organic research and innovation (R&I) priorities aiming at positioning organic farming within the broader Horizon Europe Agroecology (AE) partnership. It builds from the alignment of the TP Organics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) published in 2025 with the prioritised research areas identified by Core Organic members in their respective national Organic Action Plans (OAP). It aims at supporting coordinated actions of the Core Organic members network ensuring the organic research topics are represented with the AE partnership. Furthermore, the report includes the Core Organic members’ perception of the added value of the Core Organic network and future perspectives and short-term actions.
Consultations and ad-hoc exchanges were carried out to gather inputs and feedback from Core Organic members on the organic research topic most relevant in their national OAP and identify potential activities for coordinated actions. While the small sample size of the received inputs does not allow a statistic representation of the whole Core Organic network, the information collected indicates that strengthening the position of organic farmers in the value chain is a key element for boosting the organic sector. Furthermore, research topics on climate, soil health, and environmental resilience e.g., carbon sequestration, plant breeding and biodiversity as well as innovative solutions on holistic use of resources such as biocontrol and circular fertilization strategies are considered relevant for coordinated translational actions.
Core Organic members reported the importance of joint translational calls as well as alignment efforts between TPO-SRIA priorities and the AE Partnership SRIA.
Finally, the inputs and feedback received by Core Organic members confirm the perception of the added value of the Core Organic network in facilitating translational funding for organic research and the strategic positioning in the broader HE Partnerships ecosystem.
While the Core Organic network will not launch calls after the end of the projects, in line with the new European Commission initiative and the revised structure of Horizon Europe Partnerships, the prioritised R&I topics reported in this deliverable will serve as a guiding advocacy tool for coordinated action within CORE Organic network to ensure that organic research needs are represented within the AE partnership.