Open call to select 27 Lighthouse Projects in advising for Short Food Supply Chains
Description
The European project COREnet has launched a call for proposals to identify and support 27 Lighthouse Projects , one for each EU Member State, that highlight innovations in advising Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) . The initiative is aimed at advisors and organizations working in this field who wish to showcase novel, effective, and transferable approaches to improving the performance and impact of SFSCs.
Each selected Lighthouse Project may receive up to 5,500 euros for its implementation, in addition to specialized technical advice and access to a European collaborative learning network.
What is a Lighthouse Project?
This innovative and exemplary initiative demonstrates how expert advice can contribute to the commercial success, sustainability, and resilience of short supply chains in specific national contexts. These projects will serve as benchmarks, promoting best practices and stimulating new ideas among advisors across the EU.
The proposals must:
- Addressing an innovation in SFSC-oriented advice.
- Based on local experiences or inspired by the Golden Cases developed by COREnet.
- To highlight the link between advice and the success of short supply chain initiatives.
- Activate collaboration and learning networks among actors in the sector.
Priority topics include direct sales initiatives, cooperative models of processing and distribution, and co-production schemes between farmers, consumers and other agents.
Participation requirements
To submit an application, you need to:
- Be registered in the COREnet project advisor database .
- Participate as a natural or legal person based in an EU country.
- Send a detailed proposal , itemized budget, dissemination plan, CV and supporting documentation.
The selected projects will have 12 months to complete. Eligible activities include training courses, study visits, exchange meetings, and other outreach activities.
Evaluation and selection process
The evaluation will be carried out in four phases:
- Admissibility verification
- Technical evaluation
- Final selection
- Notification to applicants
The key criteria will be relevance, innovation, feasibility, sustainability and efficiency in the use of resources.
The call for proposals will be open continuously until April 2026 , with priority given to the first 10 projects submitted and favorably evaluated. Upon signing the grant agreement, the recipients will receive full payment and will be required to submit a final report documenting the project's progress.
COREnet reminds everyone that all proposals must comply with the ethical principles, transparency and administrative requirements of the Horizon Europe program, guaranteeing confidentiality and avoiding conflicts of interest.
More information
Interested parties can contact their National Key Contact Point (KNCP) or the COREnet project consortium at: info@shortfoodchain.eu .