Sustainable On-Site Transformation of Perishable Mediterranean Agri-Products (TOPIC: 1.3.1-2026)

Algeria
Agrifood
Post-harvest
Food Value Chain
Bioeconomy

The PRIMA Programme has launched a new funding call under Thematic Area 3: Food Value Chain in the Nexus, supporting innovative solutions for sustainable on-site transformation of perishable Mediterranean agricultural products.

This call aims to reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen local value chains, and promote climate-resilient agri-food systems across Mediterranean regions. Projects should focus on developing decentralised, renewable-powered processing technologies that enhance product shelf life and increase local economic value.

Funding Information

  • Type of Action: Innovation Action (IA)
  • Total Budget: EUR 10.814 million
  • Opening Date: 20 March 2026
  • Submission Deadline (Stage 1): 15 May 2026 (13:00 CET)
  • Status: Open

Expected Outcomes

Projects funded under this call are expected to:

  • Reduce post-harvest losses of perishable agricultural products
  • Improve competitiveness of local agricultural products
  • Strengthen circular bioeconomy models
  • Increase income diversification for rural communities
  • Support participation of women and youth in agri-food entrepreneurship
  • Promote renewable energy use in processing systems
  • Improve resilience of Mediterranean agri-food systems

Scope

Proposals should focus on:

  • Development of modular, cost-efficient processing solutions
  • On-site or near-site transformation of perishable agricultural products
  • Renewable-powered processing technologies
  • Digital and AI-enabled processing solutions (where applicable)
  • Technologies suitable for rural and infrastructure-limited areas

Example Products

Targeted agricultural products may include:

  • Onions
  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Grapes
  • Olives
  • Citrus fruits
  • Figs

Example Processing Solutions

  • Drying
  • Fermentation
  • Cooling
  • Preservation
  • Herbal extraction
  • Food pastes and spreads

Project Requirements

Projects are expected to:

  • Demonstrate technical feasibility
  • Validate solutions in real operational environments
  • Demonstrate scalability and replicability
  • Provide viable business models
  • Include SMEs and value chain actors
  • Apply multi-actor approaches and stakeholder involvement
  • Develop training and capacity-building programmes

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Projects must monitor:

  • Reduction of post-harvest losses (%)
  • Energy consumption per unit of product
  • Increase in local value retention (%)

Eligibility

Eligible applicants may include:

  • Universities
  • Research institutions
  • SMEs
  • Startups
  • Cooperatives
  • Technology providers
  • NGOs
  • Public sector organisations

Consortia are encouraged and multi-actor participation is strongly recommended, including farmers, SMEs, researchers, and local authorities.

Countries Eligible

Mediterranean region countries participating in PRIMA, including but not limited to:

  • Spain
  • France
  • Italy
  • Greece
  • Portugal
  • Turkey
  • Morocco
  • Tunisia
  • Egypt
  • Algeria
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Israel

Funding Type

Innovation Action Grant

Click HERE to visit the official website 

Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-02

Closing date
Industry
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Professional, scientific and technical activities
​Other service activities
Website link
https://prima-med.org/submit-your-project/food-value-chain-in-the-nexus/

Brochures and other documents

call-text-topic-1.3.1-2026_.pdf215.71 KB
s1-ia-guidelines-for-applicants-2026.pdf918.96 KB