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PRIMA CALL┋Thematic Area 3 - Food value chain in the Nexus

2026-27

TOPIC:1.3.1-2026 (IA): Sustainable on-site transformation of perishable Mediterranean agri-products

TYPE OF ACTION: (IA) Innovation and Action

TOTAL INDICATIVE AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THIS CALL: EUR 10.814 million

OPENING DATE: 20.03.2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE STAGE 1: 15.05.2026 (13:00h Central European Time (CET))

STATUS: Open

Expected Outcome

Reducing post-harvest losses and improving the capacity to retain value locally are critical priorities for strengthening climate resilience and economic sustainability in Mediterranean agri-food systems. In several parts of the region, losses of fresh and perishable products may reach 30–50%, largely due to climatic stress, insufficient storage, and limited access to appropriate processing infrastructure (FAO, 2019; MedECC, 2020) .
This topic aims to support decentralised and renewable-powered on-site or near-site transformation solutions that extend shelf life, enhance product quality, and increase the share of added value retained within territories. By enabling resource-efficient, low-carbon, and socially inclusive value chain models, projects funded under this call will contribute to the objectives of the Vision on Agriculture and Food, the New Circular Economy Action Plan and the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, by enabling inclusive rural entrepreneurship, safeguarding agrobiodiversity, and increasing the added value retained within territories. while contributing to the decarbonisation goals of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II as amended by RED III) and the REPowerEU Plan.

Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

Reduction of post-harvest losses and spoilage of perishable Mediterranean agri-food products, particularly in water-scarce or infrastructure-constrained regions.
Greater market value and competitiveness of traditional, local, and underutilised agricultural products through sustainable processing at or near the point of origin.
Enhanced circular bioeconomy models, including valorisation of agrobiodiversity and agro-industrial by-products.
Improved economic resilience and income diversification for smallholders, cooperatives, and rural communities, including in remote and mountain areas.
Increased participation of women and youth in entrepreneurial and value-added agri-food activities.
Greater local energy autonomy and reduced reliance on fossil fuels, through renewable-powered or hybrid processing solutions tailored to Mediterranean climatic conditions.

Scope

Proposals should support the co-design, development, demonstration, and validation of compact, modular, and cost-efficient processing solutions enabling the on-site or near-site transformation of perishable Mediterranean the on-site or near-site transformation of perishable Mediterranean plant agricultural products (e.g., onions, tomatoes, peppers, grapes, olives, citrus fruits, figs, etc.) into higher-value food products (such as dried fruits, pastes, spreads, fermented products, preserved vegetables, herbal extracts etc.). Solutions should be adapted to typical Mediterranean agro-climatic conditions and socio-economic contexts, including areas with limited water availability and weak infrastructure. Technologies should be simple to operate, maintain, repair, and replicate locally, ensuring long-term adoption and sustainability. Processing units may be powered by renewable energy sources (e.g. solar, wind, biomass) or hybrid off-grid systems, and may include capabilities such as drying, cooling, fermentation, preservation, or green extraction. Where relevant, digital and AI-enabled functionalities may be integrated to improve quality control, resource efficiency, and traceability along the value chain.
In line with the award criteria for Innovation Actions, proposals will be assessed on the credibility of their pathways to impact, including the meaningful involvement of SMEs and other innovation actors, as well as on the economic and financial viability of the proposed processing solutions.

Applicants are therefore expected to demonstrate cost-effectiveness, affordability, replicability, and scalability, supported by appropriate business and financing models and, where relevant, engagement with value-chain actors or investors.

Projects are expected to address all the following activities:

Co-develop, validate, and field-demonstrate decentralised and modular processing technologies adapted to smallholder, cooperative, and community-based production contexts, including mountain communities and other geographically remote or marginal rural areas.
Solutions should integrate renewable-energy-powered or hybrid off-grid systems to ensure environmental and operational sustainability under diverse Mediterranean conditions.
Apply participatory and user-centred design approaches throughout development, testing, and demonstration phases. Proposals are strongly encouraged to adopt a Multi-Actor Approach (MAA)25, ensuring meaningful involvement of end users, SMEs, technology providers, researchers, and local authorities/communities across the entire project cycle. Living Labs26 are encouraged as a framework to support co-creation and stakeholder engagement in real operational contexts.
Demonstrate technical performance, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and scalability of the proposed solutions in real operational settings. This should include comprehensive technological economic and market analyses, comparative cost and affordability assessments, and the validation of feasible business and scale-up models. Proposals should also present credible exploitation, manufacturing, and deployment strategies, including pathways for local production or assembly, distribution models, and long-term operational support structures.

In addition to selecting at least three PRIMA-specific KPIs, applicants are expected to monitor and report on the following compulsory KPIs:

Reduction of post-harvest losses (%) for the targeted product(s)
Energy consumption per unit of transformed product, including renewable energy share;
Increase in added value retained locally (%) at farm, cooperative, or community level.

Proposals are encouraged to develop and implement training, maintenance, and capacity-building programmes to enable long-term operation, local repair capabilities, and sustained uptake within target territories. Projects selected under this topic are encouraged to establish active synergies with projects funded under the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-02. Such synergies could focus on the exchange of best practices, joint dissemination activities, and cross-fertilisation of innovative technological and business-model solutions.