EIT Food ScaleUp Regenerative Agriculture Programme in 2025

Yes, the ScaleUp Regenerative Agriculture Programme 2025 Call is open to all entities, that meet the stated criteria. These criteria include being a legally incorporated entity for at least two years, demonstrating expertise in regenerative agriculture, and having the capacity to organise farmer trainings, networking sessions, and public events, as well as effectively advising farmers in their transition to regenerative farming.Each of the selected organisations will continue to advise 12 farmers in the country where they are applying to carry out the Programme Activities. This includes 6 farmers who joined the Programme in 2023 and 6 who joined in 2024.

Yes. Each Selected Organisation will continue advising 12 farmers (2x6) in the country where they apply to carry out the Programme Activities. This includes:

• 6 farmers who joined the Programme in 2023
• 6 farmers who joined the Programme in 2024

The Selected Organisation will be working with the same farmers previously advised by a different organisation.

Yes. The Selected Organisation will have access to all farm visit reports, including soil test results, provided by the EIT Food Programme team.

No. The Selected Organisation will work only with the 12 farmers already participating in the Programme in the respective country.

The Selected Organisation must organise one face-to-face networking session on a topic of particular interest to the Advisory Participants. The goal is to expand knowledge, foster networking, and share lessons learned. The Selected Organisation is responsible for covering costs related to:

• Coffee breaks and meals
• Venue rental
• Other Logistics

Additionally, as part of Stage 3: Farmer Advisory and Networking, the Selected Organisation must also conduct Spring and Autumn Farm Visits.

Currently, the ScaleUp Regenerative Agriculture Programme is available for 2025. There is no information yet regarding its extension. All updates about calls for 2026 will be published on eitfood.eu.

The proposal does not specify a strict number of required personnel. However, the Selected Organisation should ensure it has sufficient human resources to cover all tasks, including training, advisory services, event organisation, and reporting. The number of team members and their qualifications will be evaluated in the application process, so having a well-structured team may strengthen the proposal. The application form includes fields for listing four experts for the convenience of the applicant, but adjustments can be made as needed – experts can be added or removed depending on the Selected Organisation's needs.

Trainers do not have to be affiliated with a university. The Selected Organisation is responsible for identifying suitable trainers, who should have proven expertise in regenerative agriculture and experience in farmer education. The training sessions must align with the competency framework of EIT Food and cover core topics such as soil health, biodiversity, and economic benefits.

The total funding for the project is €55,000 (including VAT) per year. Payments are made in two tranches:

• 50% upon signing the contract
• 50% after the completion of all programme activities

There is no explicit requirement for co-financing from the subcontracted organisation. However, costs must be managed within the allocated budget, and failure to meet deliverables may result in a reduction of funding.

Soil sampling must follow the EIT Food Soil Sampling Protocol (Appendix 4).

Procedure: Each farm requires four samples (two for microbiological testing and two for chemical analysis) taken from two designated monitoring points - one in an average productivity area and one in a problematic area.

Analysis: The Selected Organisation is not responsible for conducting the analysis. Instead, the samples must be sent to laboratories selected by EIT Food within seven days of collection. If there is a delay, samples should be stored in a cool, dark place to prevent degradation.

Parameters to monitor: Soil health indicators, including microbiological activity, chemical composition, and overall soil fertility, are assessed to evaluate the impact of regenerative agricultural practices on soil quality.

The people involved in the project must be employed by the organisation. However, EIT Food does not impose any specific requirements on the type of contract they have.

There is no explicit requirement in the RfP for a direct link between farmers in Stage 3 (Farmer Advisory and Networking)) and the activities in Stage 2 (Farmer Training Session) or Stage 4 (Public Event). Stage 3 (Farmer Advisory and Networking) focuses on supporting farmers already transitioning to regenerative agriculture, while Stage 2 is an introductory training for new participants. Stage 4 is a public event aimed at a wider audience, including stakeholders beyond the participating farmers.

Farmers in Stage 3 are not required to attend Stage 2 , as they have participated in that stage in 2023 or 2024. They can participate in Stage 4. Their participation is optional and at the discretion of the Selected Organisation.

Yes, farmers attending Stage 2 Farmer Training Session may also take part in the Stage 4 public event, which is open to a broad audience. While their participation is not mandatory, it could be beneficial for networking and knowledge exchange.

Regarding Stage 3: The RfP states, "Organise a face-to-face networking session around a specific topic of particular interest for the Advisory Participants." 

The networking session in Stage 3 is not a structured training session but a networking event focused on knowledge exchange. While learning outcomes are encouraged, its main purpose is peer-to-peer engagement rather than formal training.

The event should be face-to-face and long enough for meaningful interaction—typically a few hours, though the exact duration is not specified in the RfP.

The RfP does not state that attendance is mandatory for all 12 participants, but since the event is designed for them, their presence is expected. The Selected Organisation should encourage full attendance.

Yes, the Selected Organisation is responsible for covering logistical costs, including coffee breaks, meals, venue rental, and other necessary expenses. If overnight accommodation is needed, it should be included within the project’s budget.

The Data Platform is an EIT Food-chosen system used to track farm progress in the Programme. EIT Food will select and present the Data Platform to be used in the Programme in 2025.

The Selected Organisation will be trained in using the platform to ensure proper data entry and management.

Data Entry Requirements

• Each Selected Organisation (Stage 3 – Farmer Advisory and Networking) must enter and update the following data:
  • Farm activities and regenerative practices applied
  • Farm visit reports (spring and autumn)
  • Annual farm reports with recommendations
• Frequency of Data Updates
  • Data updates are required at key milestones, such as after farm visits.

Stage 3 farmers do not have direct access to the Data Platform. Advisors (Selected Organisation) manage the data entry and updates within the platform. Farmers receive reports based on the data collected, which are provided to them by their advisors.

The RfP does not provide an estimated workload. However, it is advisable to allocate several working hours per farmer per update cycle. Data updates are required for 12 farmers at key milestones, including:

• Spring farm visit report (Appendix 3 – Farm Visit Report)
• Autumn farm visit report (Appendix 3 – Farm Visit Report)
• Annual farm report (Appendix 5 – Annual Report)
• Updates to the Holistic Action Plan, if applicable (Appendix 2 – Holistic Action Plan for Regenerative Agriculture)

All required information must be strictly included within the application form. Attachments cannot be submitted along with the project proposal.

The Farmer Training Session called “Transition towards regenerative agriculture” must align with the EIT Food Competency Framework described at https://learning.eitfood.eu/.The EIT Food Competency Framework (https://learning.eitfood.eu/learn-with-eit-food/eit-food-education-competency-framework) identifies the key competencies and capabilities required for innovators and entrepreneurs to drive effective change in the food system. Each competency consists of four levels, ranging from exploring the foundations of a skill to possessing the ability to positively transform the food system.For this training, the following primary capabilities were identified:

• Food system – The ability to analyse the food system, assess current and future sustainability challenges, and develop appropriate responses using systems approaches.
• Critical thinking – The ability to assess facts and evidence to drive decision-making, including constructive questioning of the status quo.

The competency level for this training is marked as "Explore" (laying the foundations for contributing to the sector).To ensure alignment with the Competency Framework, the training must:

• Cover at least five core modules outlined in the RfP.
• Equip participants with the knowledge and skills to adopt resiliency-based soil and ecosystem regenerative practices by understanding key applicable practices on different farms in diverse geographic regions.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the Farmer Training Session, learners will be able to:

• Compare different types of agricultural systems, such as conventional, organic, and regenerative, by recognising key elements in the relationship between regenerative agriculture and sustainability, health, profitability, and innovation.
• Identify the benefits of transitioning to regenerative agriculture for farms.

Submission and evaluation

• The selected organisation must submit an agenda, training materials, and trainer bios for approval at least four weeks before the session.
• The training will be evaluated through input and output tests as well as feedback forms, which must be collected and reported to EIT Food.