Environmental biotechnology applications in service of remediation of polluted ecosystems

This destination serves the zero-pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment, as set out in the European Green Deal, towards the 2030 zero pollution targets for air, water and soils. The objectives of the EU’s chemicals strategy for sustainability, including the focus on PFAS (the ‘forever chemicals’). R&I under this destination will contribute to reach the 2030 targets for pollution reduction, by pursuing the precautionary principle and an effective ‘zero pollution hierarchy’¹, prioritising preventive measures.

Proposed activities related to ocean and seas will be aimed at the implementation of the zero-pollution action plan within the scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the EU water legislation as well as the European Ocean Pact.

The destination will also support the implementation of the revised legislation on industrial emissions and air quality, by promoting innovative monitoring and modelling systems. It will support sustainable solutions to prevent and reduce pollution from agriculture ensuring long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the farming sector within planetary boundaries, and address pollution stemming from food and drink industries, in line with the objectives of the common agricultural policy, the announced future EU Vision for agriculture and food, and the Food 2030 initiative.

The development of innovative solutions and clean technologies in bio-based industrial sectors towards a zero-pollution and clean industrial approach is also in scope of this destination, in line with the industrial carbon management strategy and the European Climate Law, and the upcoming update of the bioeconomy strategy, underpinned by the principles of the circular economy and enabled by innovative approaches, to support the Commission communication “A Competitive Compass for the EU”, the announced strategy for European life sciences and the EU biotech act.

R&I initiatives within this destination will contribute to the objectives of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Nature Restoration Regulation, by addressing pollution as one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss as well as for the protection of the EU natural capital.

Proposals for topics under this destination should set out a credible pathway to "achieve a clean environment, ensure water resilience, and enable the transformative change necessary to reduce air, water and soil pollution to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems, while respecting planetary boundaries". More specifically, they should contribute to one or several of the following impacts:

• enhanced scientific capacity and innovative solutions for detecting and characterising pollution sources, pathways, distribution, and cumulative impacts, including pollutants of great and emerging concern, assisted by AI domain and improved environmental observation and modelling systems, resulting in cleaner air and healthier ocean, seas, waters and soils;
• safe and sustainable by design bio-based (Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/2510) solutions are developed for and by the bio-based industries, also through innovative biotechnology and biomanufacturing techniques, to contribute to climate neutrality and replace harmful chemicals in industrial bio-based processes and products;
• sustainable bio-based and nature-based solutions will be developed and tested to remediate polluted environments;
• food systems adopt the zero pollution ambition, preventing and reducing pollution in water, air, and soil;
• farmers are empowered to make informed management decisions on water, carbon, nutrients and greenhouse gas balances for environmental, social and economic sustainability, preventing and reducing pollution from agriculture.

The expected impacts from actions under Destination 4 will be maximised by the complementarities and synergies with other instruments within Horizon Europe and other programmes, like co-funded partnerships Water security for the planet (Water4All), Sustainable food systems for people, planet and climate, Sustainable Blue Economy, Agroecology and Biodiversa+; and the Horizon Europe Missions ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ and ‘Climate-Neutral Smart Cities’. Collaboration with the institutionalized partnership Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking will help industrial bio-based systems to replace harmful processes and substances, while fostering the use of sustainable natural resources.

Complementarities with Destinations 1 and 5 will enhance understanding of ecosystem adaptation and resource management under climate change, while addressing freshwater and groundwater challenges and strengthening water resilience.

To maximise the impacts of R&I under this Destination, international cooperation is encouraged.

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