JOINT CALL ON NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES, SOLUTIONS AND SYSTEMS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Deadline: Dec 3, 2018  
CALL EXPIRED

Introduction

The three ERA-NETs FACCE ERA-GAS (Monitoring and Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases from Agriculture and Silviculture), ERA-NET SusAn (Sustainable Animal Production Systems) and ICT-AGRI 2 (Information and Communication Technologies and Robotics for Sustainable Agriculture) have coordinated and aligned efforts in areas of mutual interest and established a joint transnational funding programme in the field of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) research, focusing on emissions from livestock production.

The overall objective of the 2018 Joint Call is to contribute to the development of novel technologies, solutions and systems to reduce the GHG intensity of animal production systems in Europe and beyond. This funding initiative calls for applied research. The projects’ potential impact should be relevant for the mitigation of GHG emissions within 5 - 10 years.

I. Background

The United Nation’s 17 Sustainability Goals simultaneously cover the three pillars of sustainability - economy, environment and society - and the member states’ declared aim is to achieve these goals by 2030. The agricultural sector, and livestock production in particular, faces challenges in meeting the demand for high quality protein while contributing to the reduction in GHG emissions envisaged in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Livestock farming continues to be the main contributor to agricultural emissions, yet it also offers promising options to mitigate emissions. For livestock production systems, GHG emissions represent losses of nitrogen, energy and organic matter that undermine the productivity and efficiency of the sector. Therefore, effective mitigation strategies incorporated into tailored sustainable production systems can not only reduce the contribution of food production to global climate change but also improve the efficiency and viability of supply chains. The transition towards greater sustainability requires all relevant economic, social and environmental dimensions to be taken into account. Novel technologies, solutions and systems including ICT, robotics and intelligent data analyses can help to achieve these goals.

II. Scope of the 2018 Joint Call

This funding initiative calls for applied research. The projects’ potential impact should be relevant for the mitigation of GHG emissions within 5 - 10 years. The proposed research project must be consistent with the scope of this call and with the national/organisational thematic priorities of the countries/regions involved in the project. National/organisational priorities are described in the National Regulations and/or can be communicated by the National Contact Points.

Proposals with an ICT dimension, including the use of sensors, communication technologies, data analytics, modelling, robotics, precision farming or decision support systems, will be strongly preferred. Please note that research that will provide the underpinning basis for future ICT products or services will also be regarded as projects with an ICT dimension.

The main aim of the call is to contribute to GHG mitigation in European animal production systems, but the call is also open for research concerning consumer attitudes, household consumption of animal products and policy issues (see Theme 3). The system boundary of the animal production system is “at the farm gate”, however, it can be regarded at different scales, for instance locally, regionally or beyond. Investigations can also include cooperation among farms. The scope includes manure management, animal nutrition, the feed chain (e.g. origin, harvest, processing), housing and management.

Relevant effects along the value chain should be considered, but food manufacturing and processing, food packaging, distribution of animal products or marketing and retail should not be the main focus. However, consumer behaviour and attitude, and household consumption are within the scope, including questions regarding food waste and loss, as long as they are specifically aiming at animal products and their impact on agricultural GHG emissions.

The use of insects for animal feed is within the scope of this call. Aquaculture and fur animals are outside the scope, as well as projects with a main focus on animal health or crop production.

III. Research Concepts

Whenever possible, systems thinking should be the guiding paradigm. Proposals should combine different aspects that are relevant to tackle the challenge of mitigating GHG emission in animal production systems. An integrated, multidisciplinary research approach should consider the three pillars of sustainability (society, economy and environment). If used alone, one-dimensional metrics, such as kg CO2-eq per litre milk, might ignore a significant range of social, economic and environmental costs and benefits and might fail to account for the various dimensions of sustainability (e.g. people's livelihoods and jobs, animal welfare, biodiversity, nutrition and food security). By considering a wider context, system thinking allows better understanding of the relevant drivers and impacts. Researchers from the fields of social sciences, socio-economic and policy research are explicitly invited.

GHG emissions measurements for agriculture should include those produced by process emissions (including enteric fermentation, manure management, synthetic fertilizers, manure applied to pasture, crop residues etc.), emissions from energy use, and associated land-use change emissions captured within the AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) sector.

We encourage the use of a multi-actor approach to ensure genuine and sufficient involvement of various actors including farmers, advisors, consumers, private industry, civil society organisations and those involved in governance.

IV. Themes

The scientific scope of the call addresses collaborative projects in the three research themes described below. Also note that proposals including ICT aspects will be strongly preferred. We refer to chapter II “Scope of the 2018 Joint Call”. It is required to combine at least two of the three themes.

In addition, it is required that each project applies a systems approach whenever appropriate and considers economic, environmental and societal aspects (the three pillars of sustainability).

Theme 1, the “holistic theme”: Agroecological approach to whole animal production systems

This theme relates to the evaluation, development and (re-)design of animal production systems from the perspective of agricultural production and ecology in the context of the need to reduce GHG emissions. A comprehensive approach to whole systems is required which primarily addresses the need to reduce GHG emissions and/or intensity but can also address other aspects of sustainability. Theme 1 includes:

• -  Sustainability assessment of the whole system; e.g. carbon & water footprints, life cycle assessment

• -  Determination of the production system's GHG efficiency, design and development of optimised systems to reduce emissions and enhance sustainability.

Theme 2, the “technical theme”: Technical options for the monitoring and mitigation of GHG emissions from animal production systems

This theme relates to strategies and technical options to reduce GHG emissions from animal production systems. Proposals should also address the potential synergies and trade-offs associated with the proposed options. One or more of the following research areas may be covered:

• -  The feed chain (feed origin, harvest and processing))

• -  Animal nutrition (feed rations, feed additives and nutrient efficiency) and

  husbandry (including Precision Livestock Farming)

• -  Manure management and utilisation (including technological treatments, and regional cooperation).

• -  Refinement or development of GHG emission factors related to animal production systems with the aim of reducing uncertainties and supporting the development of improved and harmonised GHG inventories across participating countries.

Theme 3, the “societal theme”: Social and/or economic approach to livestock production and consumption of animal products

The focus of this theme is on the application of social, socio-economic and political sciences to the challenge of reducing GHG emissions in animal production systems. It includes:

• -  Effects of consumption patterns and trends in the animal production sector (and vice versa) and implications for related GHG emissions

• -  Inclusion of GHG emission reductions (an environmental “externality”) into the price of food of animal origin

• -  Strategies and incentives, including policy measures, to reduce GHG emissions and remove barriers to adoption of GHG mitigation strategies.

V. Application and selection procedures

1. Timeline of the 2018 Joint Call

The 2018 Joint Call follows a one-stage submission procedure with a deadline for submission of proposals of 3rd December 2018, as defined in the timeline:

Table 1: Timeline of the 2018 Joint Call

Call for Proposals - 2018 Joint Call

Pre-announcement of the 2018 Joint Call
1st August 2018

Launch of the 2018 Joint Call
8th October 2018

Deadline for the submission of proposals
3rd December 2018 14:00 CET

2. Funding Parties

Eligibility check and review by the IEC completed Selection decision on funded projects

Communication of the evaluation outcomes and funding recommendations to the research project coordinators

Estimated starting date for funded projects

The 2018 Joint Call consists of 27 national public Funding Parties from 20 European countries and 4 Associated or Third Party countries.

A total amount of approx. 17.0 M € has been provisionally reserved by the participating Funding Parties of the 2018 Joint Call and the funds will be provided directly by the respective national/regional Funding Party to successful national/regional applicants.

Indicative budgets for each Funding Parties are given in table 2 below. Applicants are recommended to verify national/regional priorities by consulting the National Regulations (Annex D) and contacting their National Contact Point (NCP, Annex A).

Eligibility of project costs is subject to national/regional rules.