1. HORIZON 2020 Work Programme 2016-2017 Societal Challenge 2
Food security, sustainable agriculture and
forestry, marine, maritime and inland water
research, and the bioeconomy
Hello and welcome! This video is part of the Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 series.
In this first introductory video I will give you a general overview of Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2. This is about food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy.

2. WP 2016/2017- supporting research to find solutions to these challenges
Feed 9 billion people by 2050, by improving farming and food systems' capacity to sustainably supply sufficient and healthy food
Unlock the potential of seas and oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth's surface and host 50% of known species
Raise the sustainable growth potential of rural areas, and their ability to cope with demographic, climatic and economic change
Boost bio-based markets, to create for example over 3% growth/ year in the bio-based chemistry sector
Recall that the European Commission is committed to invest in R&I in the bioeconomy sectors. Horizon 2020 is the main instrument to both address the main challenges that the different bio- and blue- economy sectors and value chains are facing, and to ensure future competitiveness.
Report that for the programming period under Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2, we will prioritise actions to address the following challenges:
Ensuring food and nutritional security, together with resource efficiency, and facing climate change.
According to the FAO, to meet food demand to feed a global population projected for over 9 billion by the year 2050, a 60% increase in global agricultural production and a 50% in global aquaculture production by 2030 are necessary relative to And this challenge has to be met in the context of increasing resource scarcities while minimizing food safety risks and adapting to/mitigating climate change. It will be crucial to develop win-win solutions that bring together the primary sector and the food industry, considering nutrition, health, water and energy efficiency, zero waste and environmental sustainability in a holistic way.
b) Sustainably exploiting the potential of the oceans, which cover 70% of the earth’s surface and host 50% of known species.
Over 90% of the ocean habitat is in the deep sea and less than 10% of this has been explored. Unlocking the potential of seas and oceans across the wide range of marine and maritime industries requires an integrated approach to ensure a responsible management of resources and to maximise synergies between activities and boost growth and employment in coastal areas which is expected to increase 1,5 M by 2020.
c) Promoting dynamic territorial development, through the mobilisation of rural and coastal economies.
Rural or semi-rural areas represent about 88% of EU territory and account for 46% of the Gross Value Added and 55% of jobs. Setting the right framework conditions and developing key skills will be critical to foster innovation in rural areas, helping them generating economic activities and coping with the various dimensions of sustainability.
d) Boosting investment, employment and economic growth in the European Union.
The various sectors accounted under the bioeconomy are already worth €2 trillion in annual turnover and account for more than 22 million jobs, and their potential is still greater. For example, it has been estimated that the volume growth of EU bio-based chemical products could be over 3% per year up to 2020, resulting in a market worth €40 billion and 90,000 new jobs. Furthermore, the food industry is the largest industrial sector in the EU and there is still further potential to grow, with new businesses and industries emerging in both traditional and novel non-food sectors.

3. WP 2016/2017- objectives
Ensure food and nutrition security, by fostering resilient and resource efficient primary production and industry as well as sustainable and healthy consumption
Demonstrate the innovative potential of the oceans, by bringing technology to market
Foster innovation and business opportunities for rural and coastal areas, through new territorial approaches and business models
Re-industrialise Europe, through new bio-based value-chains, while securing sustainable biomass
Present the overall objective of this Work Programme, which is to help set Europe on a solid basis to sustain food security, the natural resource base and sustainable growth path, adapting and innovating to find resilient and efficient alternatives to our fossil-based economy. The Work Programme will test, demonstrate and transfer effective solutions to major challenges affecting the Bioeconomy on land and sea, across the agri-food chain from soil to society. European research and innovation will unlock the potentials of available bio-resources in the different bioeconomy and blue-economy sectors in a sustainable and socially responsible way.
Highlight that this Work Programme also aims at bringing Research and Innovation at the heart of major primary sectors - such as agriculture and fisheries -, to face the new challenges ahead, taking advantage of new potential in the biological, ecological, technical and information technology domains.
Recall that many of the challenges addressed in this Work Programme are of global nature, requiring the development of global solutions in cooperation with third countries and relevant international organisations or initiatives. International cooperation will be further encouraged and seek to maximise the benefits of collaboration with regions outside the EU in particular in view of solving common problems and meeting international commitments.

4. Societal Challenge 2: contributing to the Juncker Commission's policy agenda
A new boost for jobs, growth and investment
A deeper and fairer internal market with a strengthened industrial base
A resilient Energy Union with a forward looking climate change policy
A stronger global actor

5. Societal Challenge 2 Four Calls 2016-17
Sustainable food security
Blue Growth
Rural Renaissance
Bio-based innovation for sustainable goods and services
Societal Challenge 2 consists out of four calls based on a range of issues and objectives
The first call is for innovation in Sustainable Food Security which will be discussed here.
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6. Practical information
Each call will be explained in a separate video but first I will give you practical information on how to apply.
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7. Automatically eligible for EU funding
- EU Member States including their overseas departments
- Overseas Countries and Territories linked to the member States
- Countries Associated to Horizon 2020:
Iceland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Israel, Moldova, Switzerland (partial association), Faroe Islands, Ukraine
- International European interest organisations
- Exhaustive list of countries identified in Annex A to the work programme ('developing countries')
Not automatically eligible for EU funding
Entities in non-EU/non-Associated/non-'developing countries' may only be granted EU funding when:
Provision in the work programme; or
Provision under a bilateral S&T agreement; or
Commission deems participation essential for carrying out the action (project case-by-case assessment, based on the evaluation of proposals)

8. Matching funds for international partners
A number of non-EU/non-Associated countries make funding available to their participants in Horizon actions:
Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, China or Japan.* – some cover all topics – others selected topics
* Also Switzerland makes funding available for their participants in those parts of Horizon where Switzerland is not associated

9. SC2 Calls 2016 - DATES Deadlines Publication Submission 14 OCT 2015
Information to applicants
Grant Agreements
14 OCT 2015
two-stage submission
(RIA with some exceptions)
1st stage
17 Feb 2016
May 2016 -
2nd stage
13 Sept 2016
Nov 2016
May 2017
single stage submission
(IA, CSA, ERA Net)
Single stage
October 2016
The main deadlines are XXX

10. Thank you for your attention!
HORIZON 2020
Thank you for your attention!
Find out more:
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Thank you very much for watching!
Make sure to check out the videos that explain each call HERE.