Regenerative Agriculture Gains Momentum in the EU with CAP Strategic Plans and Horizon Europe Funding

Strategic Insights -

As the European Union explores ways to ensure soil health and sustainable management of natural resources, regenerative agriculture is emerging as a key component of the solution. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has allocated 32% of its funds to environmental and climate objectives, including soil health, water management, and biodiversity protection. Under Horizon Europe, the Commission is funding several research and innovation projects related to regenerative agriculture, such as the CoFund Partnership on Agroecology and the EU Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe'.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU's Vision for Agriculture and Food highlights the need to ensure soil health and sustainable management of natural resources, with regenerative agriculture playing a key role in achieving this goal.
  • The CAP Strategic Plans, designed by Member States, have included support for many regenerative practices, with 32% of funds dedicated to environmental and climate objectives.
  • Horizon Europe is funding several research and innovation projects related to regenerative agriculture, including the CoFund Partnership on Agroecology and the EU Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe'.
  • The European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) promotes over 70 Operational Group projects testing innovative regenerative agriculture practices.
  • The CAP Network's Focus Group on Regenerative Agriculture collects and disseminates knowledge on regenerative agriculture, ensuring that innovations reach the farm level.
  • The proposals for the CAP after 2027 provide tools to support regenerative and other forms of sustainable agriculture, including a voluntary on-farm sustainability compass.

Statistics:

  • 32% of CAP funds are dedicated to environmental and climate objectives, including soil health, water management, and biodiversity protection.
  • Over 70 Operational Group projects are testing innovative regenerative agriculture practices under the EIP-AGRI.
  • The CoFund Partnership on Agroecology aims to promote agroecology practices in the European Union.
  • 2026: The EU climate adaptation plan is expected to be published.
  • 2027-2032: Horizon Europe funding period for the EU Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe'.

Sources:

  • A vision for Agriculture and Food, COM(2025) final.
  • European Water Resilience Strategy, A vision for Agriculture and Food, COM(2025) 280 final.
  • Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Law), COM(2023) 416 Final.
  • The green architecture of the current Agricultural Policy (2023-2027) provides a set of Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) and Statutory Management Requirements.
  • https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en.
  • Research and Innovation projects: https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-05/factsheet-agriresearch-agroecology-and-organic-farming_en.pdf.
  • https://www.agroecologypartnership.eu/.
  • https://mission-soil-platform.ec.europa.eu/.
  • https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/projects/search_en.
  • https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/focus-group-regenerative-agriculture-soil-health_en.
  • https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/media/news/next-chapter-cap-2025-07-17_en.