Agriculture / Rural Development / Fisheries

Future-proofing the vision for agriculture and food: a vision for tomorrow

How do we build a resilient food system that can withstand the shocks of tomorrow? In the publication “Future-proofing the vision for agriculture and food,” the Commission doesn't just imagine the future — it rigorously tests it. Using a method called foresight wind-tunnelling, 12 carefully crafted vision statements were tested against four plausible future scenarios. The result? A deep dive into how robust and adaptable our current goals really are. The study makes one thing clear: policy coherence and cross-sector coordination are not optional — they’re essential. With challenges like climate change, social inequality, and global market instability looming, a holistic and anticipatory approach is the only way forward. This isn’t just a vision, it’s a blueprint for a sustainable, competitive agricultural future. 🔗 Explore the full publication here

Challenge: Compounds with biological activity against rice blast disease by UPL

  Compounds with biological activity against rice blast disease About  UPL is a global agricultural company on a mission to reimagine sustainability for farmers and food systems and committed to driving growth, supporting industry success, and advancing a more sustainable food future across the regions and communities it serves. The Challenge   The challenge focuses on identifying new compounds with biological activity against Pyricularia oryzae, the pathogen responsible for rice blast disease. It aims to explore:

• Natural extracts, synthetic molecules, or compounds from any origin with antifungal activity
• Substances with known CAS numbers, structural formulas, or brief origin descriptions
• Candidates showing preliminary lab, greenhouse, or field efficacy against rice blast
• Molecules with physicochemical properties suitable for field application and safe for rice plants

The ultimate goal is to discover sustainable and globally compliant alternatives to current fungicides, which are under increasing regulatory pressure and face market restrictions, particularly in the EU. Reward Successful applicants may engage through models such as co-development, licensing, supply or material transfer agreements, and consulting. Additional benefits include access to global R&D expertise, testing facilities (labs, greenhouses, field stations) and the company’s direct market access worldwide. Timeframe

• Deadline for Submitting Proposals: July 31

Who can apply  

• Applicants with TRL 3-9 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.