Horizon Europe Cluster 6 - Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment

Work Programme 2026-2027

Writer

Celeste Chidiac, PhD

Keywords

Microfluidic Devices, Intelligent Microfluidics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning

Opening

Jan/Feb/Apr/Aug 2026, Feb/Apr 2027

Deadline

Ap/Sep/Nov 2026, Apr/May/Sep 2027

Keywords

Intelligent Microfluidics

Deep Learning

Microfluidic Devices

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning

food security and safety

biodiversity conservation

land management practices

bioeconomy

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Calls ordered by microfluidic relevance
Horizon Europe Cluster 6 2026-2027

We have sorted the calls for projects from Horizon Europe Cluster 6 2026-2027 according to the impact that microfluidics can have on the calls for projects and related topics. We are sharing our analysis in case it can help you with project funding efforts. And, of course, if our expertise can be of use to you, we would be delighted to discuss it further.

How to read the stars in terms of % of microfluidic technologies’ relevance for the call:

By microfluidic relevance, we mean the relevance of using microfluidic technologies for the topic cited. But also, to a lesser extent, what a microfluidic laboratory or SME could contribute to the topic (mainly for calls with low relevance to microfluidic technologies).

Relevance (%)	90-100	80-89	70-79	60-69	50-59
Relevance (*)	*****	****	***	**	*

More information can be found in the CL6 work programme draft: Cluster 6 – Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment

(Details for topics that have more than 50% relevance to microfluidics are provided below, ordered by decreasing microfluidic relevance)

Discover more!

Horizon Europe Cluster 6 2026-2027 Calls ordered by microfluidic relevance

TOPICS WITH Microfluidics RELEVANCE ≥ 50% (sorted by decreasing relevance)

***** HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-07 – TOWARDS COMMERCIALIZATION OF FOOD SYSTEMS MICROBIOME SOLUTIONS

Type of action: IA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 17.50; Expected EU contribution/project (M€): 8.75; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Push promising microbiome‑based solutions along the last translational mile: pilot manufacturing, validation in operational environments, regulatory and safety dossiers, consumer/market readiness, and integration in food value chains. Prioritizes demonstrators that reduce environmental footprint and improve resilience/health aspects of food systems.
Why microfluidics matters:
- High‑throughput screening and optimization of microbial consortia in droplet microfluidics to accelerate strain/consortium selection and formulation robustness.
- Miniaturized bioprocess development (parallelized micro‑bioreactors) to de‑risk scale‑up and map design space (pH, oxygen, feed strategies) under industry‑relevant conditions.
- On‑chip analytics (metabolites, viscosity, rheology, live/dead, biofilm propensity) to compress iteration times from weeks to days.
- Regulatory‑aligned QC workflows (sterility, contamination, batch consistency) using lab‑on‑chip methods that can port to GMP environments.
- Encapsulation/micro‑delivery formats (e.g., microgels) to stabilize live microbes or post‑biotics in real matrices.

***** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-11 – INTEGRATING A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE IN MICROBIOME RESEARCH FOR RESILIENT, COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS

Type of action: RIA
Opening 14 Jan 2026; Deadline 14 April 2026
Budget (M€): 13.50; Expected/project: 6.00-7.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Advance integrative microbiome science across the food system (soil-plant-animal-human interfaces), bringing together multi-omics, longitudinal field studies, and system-level modelling to derive actionable interventions for resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability. Emphasis on harmonized methods, data interoperability, and translation across sectors.
Why microfluidics matters:
- Single‑cell & droplet-based culturomics to access uncultured taxa and quantify interaction networks.
- Lab‑on‑chip perturbation platforms to test diet, stressors, or agrochemical exposures on complex communities.
- Ultra‑low‑volume library prep and on‑chip sample handling reduce bias/costs for metagenomics/metabolomics.
- Standardization: Microfluidics can contribute to interoperable on-chip SOPs and reference materials for cross-study comparability.

**** HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02- DEVELOPING METHODS TO ASSESS THE PRESENCE, FUNCTIONS, AND SENSITIVITY OF GROUNDWATER ECOSYSTEMS

Type of action: RIA
Opening 17 Apr 2026; Deadline 17 Sep 2026
Budget (M€): 10.00; Expected/project: ~5.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Develop robust methodologies to detect and characterize groundwater biota and functions, link ecological status to pressures, and build risk indicators and sensitivity thresholds to inform policy. Includes method harmonisation and integration in monitoring frameworks.
Why microfluidics matters:
- In‑situ and portable chips for eDNA/eRNA capture, pre‑concentration and qPCR/CRISPR‑based detection from low‑biomass samples.
- On‑chip micro‑ecosystem assays to probe functional responses (e.g., redox cycling, nutrient turnover) under controlled gradients mimicking aquifer conditions.
- Droplet & digital assays for sensitive quantification of rare taxa and AMR genes.

**** HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-TWO-STAGE – DECONTAMINATE AND BIOREMEDIATE AQUATIC POLLUTION

Type of action: RIA
Opening 12 Feb 2026; Deadlines 16 Ap 2026 (Stage 1), 23 Sep 2026 (Stage 2).
Budget (M€): 23.00; Expected/project: 7.00-8.00; # projects: 3
Scientific focus: Deliver effective solutions – especially life‑science/biotech‑based – to bioremediate and decontaminate marine, freshwater, and groundwater pollution, focusing on PFAS, antimicrobials, and microplastics; integrate effect‑based and high‑resolution monitoring and demonstrate pollutant pathways to guide management actions.
Why microfluidics matters:
- High‑throughput screening of strains/enzymes/sorbents against PFAS & CECs in droplet reactors.
- Chip‑integrated effect‑based assays (cell‑on‑chip, organ‑on‑chip) to quantify toxicity reduction.
- Microfluidic fractionation of micro‑/nanoplastics and on‑chip sensors for in‑line monitoring during pilots.

**** HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-07 – ADVANCING THE EUROPEAN BIO‑BASED INNOVATION ENABLED BY BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMANUFACTURING CONCEPTS

Type of action: RIA
Opening 17 Apr 2026; Deadline 17 Sep 2026
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 4.00; # projects: 3
Scientific focus: Develop next‑gen biomanufacturing concepts (strain engineering, continuous bioprocesses, modular units), with attention to productivity, robustness, standardization, and sustainability metrics in bio‑based value chains.
Why microfluidics matters:
- µ‑bioreactor arrays for design‑build‑test‑learn at minimal volumes;
- On‑chip PAT (optical/impedance/chemistry) for real‑time control;
- Scaling laws from chip‑to‑pilot using microfluidics ’s multiphase/segmented‑flow expertise.

**** HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-03 – MICROBIOME FOR LIVESTOCK SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH WITHIN A ONE HEALTH APPROACH

Type of action: RIA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 13.00; Expected/project (M€): 6.50; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Integrate host–microbiome knowledge for livestock health, productivity, and reduced emissions/AMR within a One Health frame; combine longitudinal cohorts, multi‑omics, and intervention studies.
Why microfluidics matters:
- Gastro‑intestinal organ‑on‑chip to evaluate feed additives/probiotics under realistic shear, pH and mucus conditions.
- Single‑cell analytics to map microbial responders and resistance gene mobility.
- Rapid on‑farm chips for pathogen/AMR surveillance (sample‑to‑answer).

**** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-06 – ADVANCED INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR IMPROVED COMPETITIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE (CEA)

Type of action: IA
Opening 14 Jan 2026; Deadline 14 April 2026
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Demonstrate advanced CEA (greenhouses, vertical farming) integrating sensing, automation, decision support, and circular resource use to raise efficiency and cut inputs/emissions. Emphasizes interoperability and robust business cases.
Why microfluidics matters:
- Microfluidic nutrient dosing & analysis loops for hydroponics/aeroponics;
- Lab‑on‑chip plant phenotyping (phytohormones, nutrient status, pathogens) for closed‑loop control;
- µ‑reactors for on‑site biostimulant production/conditioning.

*** HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-BIODIV-06 – HEALTH OF ECOSYSTEMS AND WILD SPECIES, PREDICTIONS AND IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

Type of action: RIA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 14.00; Expected/project: 7.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Link ecosystem health indicators and stressors to human health via One Health surveillance, modelling and early‑warning, integrating biodiversity, pathogen dynamics and exposure pathways.
Why microfluidics matters: Fieldable microfluidic assays (eDNA/eRNA, vector/pathogen chips), point‑of‑use toxin/biomarker sensors, and organ‑on‑chip models for cross‑species risk assessment.

*** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-02 – TACKLING PESTICIDE RESISTANCE: EARLY DETECTION, MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, AND FORESIGHT

Type of action: RIA
Opening 14 Jan 2026; Deadline 14 April 2026
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Build early‑warning and surveillance for resistance, develop integrated management strategies, modelling, and foresight to prevent resistance spread.
Why microfluidics matters: On‑chip genotyping of resistance markers, rapid phenotyping of sensitivity in micro‑droplets, and field‑portable sample‑to‑answer for advisory systems.

*** HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03 – DEVELOPING MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE TECHNIQUES (MAR) IN A RURAL CONTEXT

Type of action: RIA
Opening 17 Apr 2026; Deadline 17 Sep 2026
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Develop and demonstrate MAR solutions tailored to rural settings, aligned with CIS guidance, addressing hydrogeology, water quality, design/operation, monitoring, and governance.
Why microfluidics matters:
- Porous‑media chips to study clogging, redox fronts, and biofilm dynamics under MAR conditions;
- In‑situ micro‑sensors for nutrients, metals, and microbial indicators;
- On‑chip fate/transport assays for PFAS/CEC attenuation.

*** HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-08 – BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATION FOR CCU

Type of action: RIA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: ~6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Develop biotechnological CO₂/CO valorization routes (microbial, enzymatic) with improved yields, productivity, and integrability into industrial ecosystems, including sustainability and techno-economic assessments.
Why microfluidics matters: Gas-liquid microreactors for mass‑transfer-limited CCU, screening of acetogens/methanotrophs in droplets, and on-chip TEA/LCA data streams via PAT.

** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-01 – DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE PHYTOSANITARY TREATMENTS FOR REGULATED PLANT PESTS

Type of action: IA
Opening 14 Jan 2026; Deadline 14 April 2026
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Pilot novel phytosanitary treatments (efficacy, residue, safety), develop standardized protocols and demonstration in real supply chains, including regulatory interfaces.
Why microfluidics matters: On‑chip exposure chambers for pest/pathogen life‑stages, dose-response mapping at scale, and micro‑encapsulation strategies for targeted delivery/reduced residues.

** HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-08 – AI‑POWERED FOODOME CHARACTERIZATION

Type of action: IA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 8.00; # projects: 1
Scientific focus: Build AI‑ready pipelines for foodome (chemical/nutritional/hazard profiles) across real matrices; integrate high‑throughput measurement, data fusion, and validation in industry settings.
Why microfluidics matters: Front-end sample prep on chip (cleanup, extraction, derivatization), µ-scale separations feeding MS/NMR, and inline quality sensors for factory deployment.

** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-04 – ACCELERATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BREEDING TOOLS FOR PERENNIAL CROPS, SPECIFICALLY FRUIT AND NUT TREES

Type of action: RIA
Opening 14 Jan 2026; Deadline 14 April 2026
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Develop and integrate breeding tools (genotyping, phenotyping, speed breeding) for perennials; address climate resilience, pests, and quality traits with interoperable data and field validation.
Why microfluidics matters: Single‑pollen/seed assays on chip, µ‑fluidic phenotyping (hormone/volatile flux), and ultra-low input genomics to accelerate selection cycles.

** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-13 – BOOSTING PLANT HEALTH AND REDUCING LOSSES ON FARM AND DURING STORAGE FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN AFRICA (FNSSA)

Type of action: IA
Opening 14 Jan 2026; Deadline 14 April 2026
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Demonstrate practical interventions that reduce field and storage losses in African contexts (plant health, diagnostics, storage tech, IPM), with capacity‑building and local value‑chain integration.
Why microfluidics matters: Portable microfluidic diagnostics for pests/pathogens/mycotoxins, low‑cost on‑chip sensors for storage conditions (humidity, volatiles), and micro‑encapsulated treatments.

** HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03 – IMPROVE THE CAPACITY TO MONITOR AND REDUCE AIR POLLUTION FROM AGRICULTURE

Type of action: RIA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Develop and validate monitoring/mitigation strategies for agri‑air pollution (e.g., NH₃, PM, VOCs), linking measurement, modelling, and interventions.
Why microfluidics matters: µ‑gas sensors & micro‑preconcentrators for NH₃/VOCs, aerosol‑on‑chip characterization, and sensor fusion with data models.

** HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-01 – INCREASING THE RESILIENCE OF AGRICULTURE IN WATER‑ AND NUTRIENT‑SCARCE ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH DIGITAL INNOVATIONS

Type of action: RIA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Deploy digital sensing/decision tools to manage scarce water/nutrients; integrate agronomy, remote sensing, and farm‑level automation.
Why microfluidics matters: Soil‑pore‑scale chips to study nutrient transport, sap‑flow micro‑sensors, and on-chip nutrient monitoring for precision fertigation.

** HORIZON-CL6-2026-03-GOVERNANCE-04 – SUPPORTING ALL-ATLANTIC OCEAN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ALLIANCE

Type of action: RIA
Opening 04 Feb 2027; Deadline 11 May 2027
Budget (M€): 15.00; Expected/project: 5.00; # projects: 3
Scientific focus: Co‑design and validate new ocean observing technologies and system architectures, improving coverage, interoperability, and sustainability of observing networks.
Why microfluidics matters: Lab‑on‑chip nutrient & pH sensors for autonomous platforms, biofouling‑resistant micro‑analysers, and compact micro‑samplers.

** HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-BIODIV-01 – INTEGRATING REMOTE SENSING AND IN‑SITU OBSERVATIONS OF BIODIVERSITY, TOWARDS A FULLY INTEROPERABLE OBSERVATION AND DATA FRAMEWORK

Type of action: RIA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 10.00; Expected/project: 5.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Build interoperable frameworks that connect in‑situ biodiversity observations with RS products, enabling indicators and policy‑relevant monitoring.
Why microfluidics matters: microfluidics can supply standardized on‑site sampling cartridges (eDNA/eRNA/chemistry) that dovetail with RS products and data pipelines.

** HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-BIODIV-03 – TECHNICAL INNOVATION TO PROTECT ECOSYSTEMS AND TO SCALE UP THEIR RESTORATION

Type of action: IA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 14.00; Expected/project: 7.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Demonstrate restoration technologies at scale (monitoring, adaptive management, supply‑chain tools), with robust ecological and socio‑economic KPIs.
Why microfluidics matters: In‑field micro‑assays for soil/water health and portable biosensors to steer restoration actions in near‑real time.

** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-02 – TOWARDS THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURES OF THE FUTURE

Type of action: RIA
Opening 14 Jan 2026; Deadline 14 April 2026
Budget (M€): 10.00; Expected/project: 5.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Design and validate resilient water infrastructures, integrating sensor networks, digital twins, and nature‑based options for droughts/floods/quality.
Why microfluidics matters: Networkable micro‑analysers for contaminants/nutrients, and lab-on-chip early‑warning modules for plant operators.

** HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-03 – CARBON FARMING INNOVATION AND SCALE‑UP

Type of action: IA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 6.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Pilot and scale carbon‑farming practices with robust MRV, permanence, and economics.
Why microfluidics matters: Soil‑on‑chip microcosms to quantify carbon stabilization processes and in‑situ microsensors for soil gases and dissolved organics.

** HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-01-TWO-STAGE – OPEN TOPIC: INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FOR THE WATER RESILIENCE STRATEGY

Type of action: IA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 10.00; Expected/project: 5.00; # projects: 2
Scientific focus: Open innovation for EU Water Resilience Strategy-deployable tech with measurable resilience gains.
Why microfluidics matters: Compact treatment/monitoring modules (e.g., PFAS pre‑concentration + sensor), micro‑scale process intensification for distributed water systems.

** HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 – REPLACING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN BIOCIDAL PRODUCTS

Type of action: RIA
Opening 20 Apr 2027; Deadline 22-23 Sep 2027
Budget (M€): 12.00; Expected/project: 4.00; # projects: 3
Scientific focus: Develop safer, effective alternatives to hazardous actives in biocides; include mode‑of‑action evidence and risk/benefit assessments.
Why microfluidics matters: High‑content micro‑bioassays for efficacy/cytotoxicity, time‑resolved on‑chip kinetics, and micro‑encapsulation to tune delivery while reducing exposure.