COOPEN – Call for Innovators: Food and Sustainable Agriculture Grant
In context
This call is open to startups, small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits and 3 others, at idea and R&D stage and prototype and pilot stage. Coverage is read from the notice itself: Italy and Africa.
Open innovation challenge seeking solutions to improve agricultural productivity, increase biodiversity, and mitigate climate change in food and agriculture systems, targeting partnerships between Italy and African countries. Eligible innovators can submit proposals addressing sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.
About this grant
COOPEN is an open innovation programme promoting participative solutions between Italy and Africa across three key areas: Food and Sustainable Agriculture, Circular Economy, and Health and Well-being. The programme aims to address major international development challenges and contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It operates through a four-phase model: first, a Call for Interest and participative roundtables to build challenges; second, Challenge Calls for Innovators in the three focus areas; third, an incubation and acceleration phase with partnership activation and funding for planning and development; and fourth, mentoring and achievement support to ground projects and launch them in target markets. The programme focuses particularly on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Health and Well-being), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships). The Food and Sustainable Agriculture track seeks innovative solutions to improve agricultural productivity, increase biodiversity, and mitigate climate change consequences.
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Eligibility
The programme operates between Italy and Africa, specifically in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia in East Africa and Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger in West Africa. The page indicates applicants can participate in calls and engage in incubation phases, though specific organizational type restrictions are not detailed.
Key requirements
- ✓Italy-Africa partnership structure required
- ✓Focus on agricultural productivity improvement
- ✓Solutions must address biodiversity enhancement and/or climate change mitigation
- ✓Innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture
Frequently asked questions
- Who can apply for COOPEN – Call for Innovators: Food and Sustainable Agriculture?
- Eligibility covers organisations in IT, AFRICA; startup, sme, nonprofit, university, research-institution, consortium. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.
Relevant sectors
About this sector
Regenerative agriculture funding supports soil health, cover cropping, reduced tillage, agroforestry and grazing practices that store carbon and restore land. It comes through agricultural support schemes, research programmes and supply-chain initiatives run with food companies. Applicants often need farmer partners, field trial plans and a way to monitor soil outcomes.
Free accounts: 1 official link a month · Pro: every link
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