Sustainable And Healthy Diets For Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention With The Support Of Digital Applications
HORIZON Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-09
- Programme
- Call 02 - single stage (2026)
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Open (31094502)
- Opening Date
- January 14, 2026
- Deadline
- April 14, 2026
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €11,800,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €5,000,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €6,000,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 2
- Keywords
- HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-09HORIZON-CL6-2026-02Cardiovascular diseasesGender in health sciencesHealthcare systemInnovation support servicesNutrition related disordersResearch to businessTechnology transfer
Description
Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:
- identified the effects of sustainable and healthy diets on the gut microbiome and on the cardiovascular system (as well as through possible interlinks between the two) using AI and digital tools by considering different groups of the population (children, adults and older population) as well as gender;
- increased knowledge generated through the use of AI and existing digital tools on how to help people improving their eating habits by choosing healthy diets to prevent cardiovascular disease. Development of a new tool or scaling up of an existing tool that patients/individuals can use to guide them in their day to day eating habits with a personalised approach. Identified robust economic cost-benefit analysis, together with real end-user involvement and demonstration;
- the scientific communication on the link between sustainable and healthy diet (which also includes food ingredients and processing food technology) and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases is translated into digital health solutions developed by SMEs and start-ups;
- improved understanding of the link between the decrease of specific nutritional risk factors and the increase of beneficial nutritional intake in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, through the support of digital solutions developed by SMEs and start-ups.
The topic is relevant to the EU policies related to the ‘Healthier Together’ initiative, the Commission Communication on the European Health Union[1] and the Council conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the European Union[2], the R&I Food 2030 framework and the Strategy for European Life Sciences.
Proposals should address all the following activities:
- investigate the host-microbiota interactions, standardised biomarkers, involving inflammatory and metabolic pathways or other pathways to elucidate the relationship between changes in the diet, the gut microbiome and cardiovascular risk. Develop and test nutrition approaches based on microbiome profiles of different populations (based on gender, age, genetic background). Identify the effects of sustainable and healthy diets on the cardiovascular system using AI and digital tools by considering different groups of the population (based on gender, children, adults and older population);
- map the existing digital health solutions (including existing hubs) related to the reduction of cardiovascular diseases linked to unhealthy diets and nutrition;
- develop and provide user friendly digital solutions for authorities, national institutes, and healthcare and nutritional professionals which also consider the cost and the benefits also for the end-users. These solutions should also benefit patients in the monitoring of cardiovascular diseases and individuals identified at risk to develop the disease;
- ensure that SMEs and start-ups should facilitate the successful deployment and commercialization of digital solutions and should be actively involved in expanding data integration across various healthcare systems and in analysing health data to provide insights on the link between diet and cardiovascular health.
Proposals should involve the effective contribution of SSH disciplines. Experts in behavioural sciences and psychology, for instance, might help better understanding the perception and uptake of digital solutions, the diet consumption aspect and the eating habits of different demographic groups.
The multi-actor approach is encouraged. Proposals should include industry and innovative SMEs in the consortia and ensure an early engagement of authorities, national institutes, healthcare and nutritional professionals, patients as well as experts on advanced digital tools for the co-design, testing and adoption of the digital solutions and tool.
Projects are encouraged to explore complementarities and exploit potential synergies with the projects funded under the topics HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11: Understanding of gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases: determinants, risk factors and pathways and HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-TOOL-01: Development of predictive biomarkers of disease progression and treatment response by using AI methodologies for chronic non-communicable diseases, once information on the funded projects is available.
[1] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: The European Health Union: acting together for people’s health (COM/2024/206 final).
[2] Cardiovascular health: Council calls for more robust efforts to help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Destination & Scope
This destination will support the EU Commission priority ‘Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature’.
R&I will provide new knowledge and innovation in support of the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, built on the recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture, to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of our farming, fisheries, aquaculture and food sector within the boundaries of our planet. The implementation of the Green Deal actions will continue to guide R&I in this destination to foster sustainable food systems, addressing potential trade-offs between economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
The R&I activities under this Destination will contribute to the ambitious objectives of the current CAP concerning the competitiveness and sustainability of feed, food and non-food production as well as additional future CAP policy priorities. More specifically, actions will contribute to the specific objectives of the CAP; EU action plan for the development of organic production; food safety regulations; sustainable use of pesticides requirements under the plant protection products framework; action plan against antimicrobial resistance; animal health and welfare legislations; legislative and non-legislative initiatives to enhance cooperation of primary producers and improve their competitiveness and position in the food chain; protein strategy; contingency plan for ensuring food supply and food security and communications on food security and fertilizers, the Nature Restoration Regulation, the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
R&I will also support the announced Vision for the Fisheries Sector with a 2040 perspective and the European Ocean Pact, a framework of coherence across all policies linked to the ocean. R&I will also be relevant to the outcomes of the evaluation of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and will support its placement under this Pact, as fisheries and aquaculture are affected by other ocean related policies.
An important driving force of food systems transformation should be the integration of sectors, actors (including citizens and consumers) and policies. This will involve a better understanding of the multiple interactions between the components of current food systems, to foster solutions that maximise co-benefits with respect to the priorities of Food 2030[1].
The EU Communication on Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the[2] EU provides an overview of the application of biotechnologies in several sectors including food and feed. R&I activities in this destination will also contribute to achieving the objectives of the Strategy for European Life Sciences, the EU Biotech Act, and the new EU bioeconomy strategy.
The Destination supports unlocking the unique assets for research and innovation of the EU outermost regions, in line with the EU strategy for outermost regions[3].
Expected impact: Proposals for topics under this destination should set out credible paths to “ensuring healthy food and nutrition security by making agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and food systems sustainable, resilient, inclusive and within planetary boundaries”. More specifically, proposed topics should contribute to one or more of the following expected impacts:
- agriculture and food systems contribute to ensuring a secure, safe, sustainable, nutritious, and affordable supply of healthy food in Europe and beyond by fostering its long-term competitiveness, resilience, scalability and sustainability within the boundaries of our planet with the One Health approach;
- farmers are empowered to ensure the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of the farming sector, through increasing knowledge, tools, innovative solutions, and advice that allow efficient productivity, working for and with nature, preserving and restoring biodiversity within agricultural ecosystems and helping to decarbonise the EU economy;
- sustainable fisheries and aquaculture (in marine, brackish and freshwater) contribute to fair, healthy, resilient and environment-friendly food systems in healthy aquatic ecosystems with thriving diversity of species and habitats providing ecosystem and climate services and triggering growth and jobs’ creation in coastal and rural areas;
- tools are provided so that citizens and communities are empowered to make the sustainable food choices and move towards safe, healthy, nutritious, accessible, affordable and sustainable diets. Insights and advances in life science and digital & data technologies are valorised to deploy solutions in practice across the EU;
- food businesses, including food processing industries and SMEs, are supported to increase their resilience and competitiveness, while ensuring resource efficiency and sustainability, and human, animal and ecosystem health is preserved.
[1] The four priorities of Food2030 are: 1) nutrition and health; 2) climate and environmental sustainability; 3) circularity and resource efficiency; and 4) innovation and empowering communities.
[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52024DC0137.
[3] COM(2022) Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the EU’s outermost regions.
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Frequently Asked Questions About Sustainable And Healthy Diets For Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention With The Support Of Digital Applications
Support & Resources
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