Cluster 6 in Horizon Europe covers Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment. So far in 2022, Ireland has secured >€38m for 67 projects. This equates to 2.8% of the total Horizon Europe Cluster 6 funding for 2022.

The successful grants ranged from funding of €300,000 to >€2 million. To date, Ireland is coordinating nine projects and acting as a collaborating participant in 94 projects. The Irish research performing organisations responsible for coordinating are: Teagasc, University College Dublin, University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin and National University of Ireland Galway.

In addition to this, Irish researchers are collaborating with over 1,460 different research partners in other countries.

Another important aspect of Horizon Europe is the Missions, of which there are five. One of those is the ‘Soil Deal for Europe’ and this aims to protect and restore soils in Europe. More than €142 million has been allocated for the 2023-2024 work programme for this Mission.

On the occasion of World Soils Day 2022, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon TD, announced that the Department has created a new national ‘Soil Mission Mirror Group’.  

Its focus will be to coordinate, facilitate and maximise Ireland's participation in the Soil Mission.  

In making the announcement, Minister Heydon said that the Soil Mission will enable research in areas which are a key focus in “Food Vision 2030”, the ten-year Strategy for the agri-food sector. This Strategy highlights that good soil health is critical in terms of agricultural output, producing nutrient-dense food, sequestering carbon, supporting habitats and biodiversity, and building resilience against climate change. 

The Soil Mission Mirror Group will facilitate collective engagement and the exchange of information on soils, involving relevant stakeholders. The Soil Mission Mirror group will promote applicants to participate in the call with the opportunity to submit proposals in different topics explaining how their research could contribute to, among others, improving soil biodiversity, fostering soil and land restoration and supporting carbon farming. An important task of the mission will also be to raise awareness of the value of soils and soil health to different societal actors, including citizens.