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Horizon Europe Cluster 6 — Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources & Environment

Horizon Biodiversity: Insect Decline & Recovery

Funds two €6.5M research projects tracking why insect populations are collapsing and testing ways to reverse it, pollinators aside.

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Insects have declined by an estimated 75% over the last three decades. That's a bigger deal than it sounds — insects don't just pollinate crops. They break down waste, cycle nutrients, build soil (including locking away carbon), control pests, and sit near the bottom of most food chains. This topic funds research into why that decline is happening and what actually works to slow or reverse it.

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Research into why insects are declining and how to reverse it — covering insect groups other than pollinators, which past projects already studied well. Funded work catalogues insect diversity (including with genomic methods), tracks population status and trends and the multiple drivers behind them across different spatial scales, using an integrative approach that combines ecology and ecotoxicology and follows insects through their full lifecycle. It also builds and tests long-term monitoring schemes, puts an economic value on the ecosystem services insects provide, and tests ways to protect and restore the habitats insects need.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Annual
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.17 Sept 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.22 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€13M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-01Source: ec.europa.eu