Agriculture / Rural Development / Fisheries

Challenge: HortiEdit 2025: Thriving plants, sustainable harvest by Bayer AG

HortiEdit 2025: Thriving plants, sustainable harvest About  Bayer AG is a German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. Its Crop Science division focuses on agricultural innovation, specializing in crop protection, biotechnology, and seed development to support sustainable farming and global food security. The Challenge   The challenge focuses on applying gene editing to improve resilience and sustainability in specialty crops. It aims to explore:

• Disease-resistant traits in tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, and strawberries
• Structural traits that support efficient, mechanized production
• Tolerance to variable growing conditions and reduced input needs

The ultimate goal is to develop gene-edited crops with measurable benefits, ready for trait integration and commercial development. Reward Successful applicants may receive an unrestricted grant from Bayer Crop Science. Additional benefits may include access to Bayer Vegetable Seeds’ expertise, global market reach through established distribution networks, and potential use of facilities depending on the proposal. Timeframe

• Deadline for Submitting Proposals: July 31

Who can apply  

• Applicants with TRL 5-9 solutions

How to apply  Application through HALO Platform. Find here all the details and the submission page  The SPIN4EIC consortium is not responsible for the challenges launched by private or public buyers. Each participating entity is solely responsible for its own challenge, including the selection process, communication with applicants, and all information provided to participants.

Join the Agrifood Policy Conference: navigating the future of agriculture and food

📅 Date: 3 June 2025 🕑 Time: 14:00 – 18:00 📍 Location: Provided upon registration As Europe faces rising environmental and economic challenges, the future of agriculture and food is more important than ever. The Agrifood Policy Conference: Navigating the Future of Agriculture and Food offers a vital platform to explore how we can build a more resilient, sustainable, and competitive agri-food sector for Europe. Programme:

• 14:00 – 14:45 | PLENARY: Advancing EU Agriculture – Securing Europe’s Food and Farming Future Kick off with keynote speaker Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, as he outlines the EU’s vision for safeguarding food security and supporting rural economies.  
• 15:00 – 15:45 | PANEL: From Label to Table – Ensuring Clear and Reliable Food Information Explore how better labelling can empower consumers and drive transparency in the food system. Join experts from the European Parliament, Ghent University, and BEUC for this critical discussion.  
• 16:05 – 16:50 | PANEL: Advancing Agriculture – Rethinking Regulation for New Technologies Discover how innovations like new genomic techniques could reshape EU agriculture—and why regulation must evolve to keep pace.  
• 16:50 – 17:35 | PANEL: Competing in a Changing Global Market How can the EU agri-food sector remain globally competitive while advancing sustainability? Join leading policy voices and trade experts to find out.  
• 17:35 – 18:20 | PANEL: Decarbonising Agrifood – Challenges and Solutions From soil to shelf, what does a climate-neutral food future look like? Dive into real solutions for reducing emissions across the agrifood chain.  
• 18:20 – 18:30 | Closing Remarks

The event brings together EU policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to forge a stronger path forward for food and farming. Join the debate, register here!