Safer trade through science: advancing innovative phytosanitary treatments in HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-01
12th December 2025 at 11:20 am
Phytosanitary innovation is central to preventing the introduction and spread of regulated plant pests through post-harvest imported goods. These pests pose a major risk to agriculture, forest ecosystems, biodiversity and global food security. The Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-01 supports Innovation Actions (IAs) that develop and demonstrate cost-effective and environmentally friendly phytosanitary treatments with proven efficacy and operational feasibility. With a deadline of 14 April 2026 and an indicative budget of €12.00 million for two projects, this call supports the Vision for Agriculture and Food and Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, enabling safe international trade while protecting Europe’s environment and plant health.
1. Developing next-generation phytosanitary innovation
Current phytosanitary treatments for post-harvest goods are limited in scope, often lacking proven efficacy against specific quarantine pests defined by the European Union (EU). Many existing treatments also face challenges related to environmental impact, worker safety or inconsistent performance. The EC seeks next-generation treatment solutions using vapour, heat, cold, irradiation or controlled atmospheres that offer reliable, specific, non-toxic and scalable alternatives.
• Identify the target quarantine pests and justify their relevance to EU trade flows.
• Explain the treatment mode of action and demonstrate efficacy, specificity and reproducibility.
• Highlight environmental performance, human health considerations and cost-effectiveness.
• Clearly state whether the proposal addresses Area A (wood/wood products) or Area B (fruits and vegetables).
2. Testing and validation under operational conditions
This call expects treatments to be validated under practical, real-world conditions that mirror commercial trade environments. Proposals should cover technical, economic, safety and environmental dimensions, supported by rigorous scientific testing. Validation must generate evidence that supports regulatory compliance, market acceptance and operational usability.
• Design trials that reflect industry workflows and logistics conditions.
• Include dose–response, specificity and residue assessments where relevant.
• Define test protocols that meet regulatory expectations for consistency and safety.
• Integrate SMEs or other testing organisations through financial support to third parties (FSTP) where justified.
3. Developing standardised protocols and operational guidelines
A key novelty of this call is its emphasis on science-based, standardised protocols that support consistent application of treatments across the EU and internationally. These protocols must be operational, user-friendly and aligned with phytosanitary regulations to support inspection bodies, traders and treatment providers.
• Co-develop protocols with regulators, inspectors and industry operators.
• Include clear steps for treatment application, monitoring and verification.
• Ensure compatibility with relevant international standards and risk analysis frameworks.
• Demonstrate how guidance documents will support adoption by industry and authorities.
4. Ensuring scalability, feasibility and industry adoption
Successful projects must show that their phytosanitary innovation can be deployed at scale, which includes demonstrating the feasibility of integrating new treatments into commercial logistics, supply chains and inspection systems. Scalable processes must also be cost-effective, operationally realistic and compatible with existing trade infrastructure.
• Highlight industrial partnerships across trade, logistics and treatment service providers.
• Include system-level analyses to assess scalability and integration in supply chains.
• Quantify operational requirements such as energy use, throughput and treatment times.
• Demonstrate cost–benefit performance for growers, exporters and importers.
5. Collaboration across regulatory, industrial and trade actors
The European Commission (EC) expects broad engagement across the phytosanitary ecosystem, including public authorities, treatment operators, exporters, importers, and third-country stakeholders. Engagement should ensure that developed treatments are not only scientifically sound but also practical for inspection authorities and aligned with international trade requirements.
• Establish advisory groups including national plant protection organisations (NPPOs).
• Involve exporters, packhouses and logistic providers early in method design.
• Create feedback loops with inspection authorities to refine protocols.
• Align with EU plant health policy and support future updates to regulatory frameworks.
6. Strengthening guidelines for safe international trade
Phytosanitary innovation must protect plant health while facilitating trade. The EC encourages proposals that contribute to robust guidelines supporting regulatory compliance, treatment consistency and safe movement of goods across borders. Clear guidelines enhance trust between trading partners and support the EU’s global leadership in plant health.
• Produce guidelines and decision-support tools for operators and inspectors.
• Develop knowledge outputs for third-country partners to support uptake.
• Integrate risk assessment data, safety thresholds and environmental evidence.
• Plan for long-term usability, including training modules and digital guidance tools.
Do you need support with writing your proposal for phytosanitary innovation?
At accelopment, we collaborate with consortia advancing plant health, food safety and sustainable system transformations. Our experience includes projects such as ViroiDoc, PHOTONFOOD, DECIDE and BioTransform, which demonstrate our capabilities in biological risk management, food system innovation, digital decision-support and systemic sustainability approaches. Together, these projects reflect our commitment to turning scientific advances into operational, policy-relevant solutions that strengthen agricultural resilience and safe international trade. With our experience in proposal writing, consortium coordination and impact communication, we help research teams design competitive, high-impact projects under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 6.
Dr. Johannes Ripperger
Research & Innovation Manager
Andreia Cruz
Research & Innovation Project Manager