New subsidy round for agri and food innovation

The Dutch agri and food sector is among the global leaders. Companies provide millions of people with safe and healthy food every day and contribute to societal challenges such as climate change and the raw materials transition. At the same time, the sector is facing far-reaching change. To remain economically and socially future-proof, knowledge and innovation are essential.

To stimulate joint investment in research and innovation, TKI Agri & Food has opened the PPS call “Innovatie-impuls Agri & Food.” Through this scheme, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) makes funding available each year for public-private research collaboration with both societal and economic relevance.

Up to €2.5 million for PPS projects

Through this call, TKI Agri & Food is making up to €2.5 million available for public-private collaboration projects. The projects must focus on technological and/or system-level breakthroughs and place strong emphasis on impact. The research must relate to the agri and food domain and fit within the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda for Agriculture, Water and Food 2024–2027 (KIA-LWV).

The maximum project duration is two years. During this period, the aim is to work toward a proof of principle. If successful, a next step toward valorization and scaling up should be feasible. Research with a strong fundamental focus is less well suited to this call.

Focus on water availability

In addition to other topics, the call explicitly offers room for one proposal within the priority theme of water availability in the agri and food sector. Water is a basic requirement for agriculture and food production, while sufficient and reliable availability is becoming less self-evident looking ahead.

This system-level challenge calls for collaboration on new management strategies, with attention to local water buffers and smart (re)use of freshwater. To support parties in forming consortia, TKI Agri & Food is organizing a matchmaking session on this priority theme on February 9, 2026.

Deadlines and planning

Proposals can be submitted up to and including April 15, 2026. Pre-registration is mandatory and possible up to and including March 1, 2026. Projects that are approved must start no later than October 1, 2026.

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