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EU Missions under Horizon Europe

Horizon Soil Mission: Antimicrobial Resistance in Soils

Funds two €7M projects that map how antimicrobial resistance develops in soil and turn it into guidance for policymakers and land managers.

OpenEuropean CommissionEU

Soil microorganisms gave us many of the antibiotics used in human and veterinary medicine today. But soil has a dark side too: it's also a hotspot where antimicrobial resistance develops, and a pathway that carries resistance genes between organisms, animals and people. Antibiotic use is rising globally, driven partly by demand for food-producing animals, which is only going to make this worse. Th

Research and Innovation Action funding two projects, each a flat €7,000,000 lump sum, to study how antimicrobial resistance develops and spreads in soils and how soil microorganisms naturally biosynthesize antibiotics. Proposals have to explore the sources and dynamics of resistance development and antibiotic biosynthesis across land-use types; analyse how soils transfer resistance genes between organisms, environments, humans and animals; expand databases of antibiotic-related genes and antibiotic alternatives from soil microorganisms; turn the findings into guidance for policymakers and land managers on reducing exposure and on finding new pharmaceutical molecules; and run public communication on soil's role in health. Work is interdisciplinary — life sciences, environmental sciences, health sciences and veterinary sciences — and has to link up with the One Health AMR European Partnership and route outputs through the EU Soil Observatory and SoilWise.

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.23 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.€14M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-02Source: ec.europa.eu