Test Farms Startups Call

This call aims to attract TRL 6–9 startups that are ready to demonstrate the value of their technologies and scale their impact. Through Test Farms, selected startups will gain access to farmers, agronomists, testing sites, and visibility opportunities that help drive commercial adoption and investor interest. 

Through this call, EIT Food is looking for startups that want to: 

Participate in real-world testing and validation of their agritech or aquatech solutions on European farms or aquaculture sites. 

• Engage directly with farmers and agronomists to refine their products based on practical needs and field performance.
• Generate evidence, data, and validation results that strengthen their commercial readiness and investor attractiveness.
• Showcase their solutions to potential clients, partners, and funding sources through visibility and promotional activities.
• Contribute to a more sustainable and efficient agrifood system, bringing digital, biotech, circular, regenerative, or aquatech innovations to market.
• Deliver strong business KPIs, including sales growth, funding attraction, and measurable validation metrics aligned with the programme’s objectives. 

The Test Farms programme seeks European-based innovative startups that are developing solutions with strong potential to transform agriculture or aquaculture. The ideal organisational profile includes: 

• Type of Organisation: 
  Incorporated startup or early-scale-up operating in agri-tech and aqua-tech industry.
• Technology Readiness: 
  Solutions at TRL 6–9, meaning the innovation has been validated in a relevant environment and is ready for real-world testing with end users.
• Innovation Quality: 
  Technologies that demonstrate clear novelty, strong potential for positive environmental or economic impact, and alignment with Test Farms focus themes (e.g., regenerative agriculture, decarbonisation, digital farming, sustainable feed, circular systems).
• Operational Capacity: 
  The ability to deploy and support their solution in the field, including sufficient staffing, technical expertise, and resources to carry out the pilot in collaboration with farmers.
• Data and Learning Orientation: 
  Readiness to collect, analyse, and share performance data to support programme KPIs, contribute to impact measurement, and refine the solution after field validation.
• Scalability & Market Potential: 
  Solutions that have a clear pathway to commercialisation and scaling across European farming or aquaculture systems. 

• Collaboration & Communication Skills: 
  Willingness to work closely with farmers, technical partners, and EIT Food teams in a transparent, cooperative manner. 

  The project runs from March 2026 to November 2026. The maximum funding available for that period per application is 4.000,00 EUR (lump sum). 

  The lump sum is intended to support a broad set of activities aligned with Horizon Europe and EIT Food priorities. It covers the following cost categories: 

• Other Goods & Services (up to €500): to cover the organisation of their Demo Day activities, including printing materials, documentation, or small event-related expenses, as well as any other eligible costs approved by the Test Farms manager.
• Travel (up to €1380): to cover up to two essential project-related travels and associated accommodation costs, as well as the transportation of the solution to and from the testing site where applicable
• Direct subcontracting costs (up to €1650): to cover essential pilot-related expenses, including field adjustments and installation, as well as the rental of equipment or laboratory services required for testing their solution. 

• Indirect Costs (up to €470): to cover indirect and overhead costs that facilitate participation in the Test Farms pilot, including administrative, managerial, and communication-related.

  This call is open to eligible legally incorporated entities, startups, SMEs. Each implementing participant must be a legally incorporated entity registered in or after 2016 in one of the following countries:  

• Be a legally incorporated entity registered in or after 2016 in one of Horizon Europe eligible countries.
• Provide a PIC Number: https://www.eitfood.eu/files/PIC-Guidance.pdf
• Have developed an innovative solution* in aquaculture and/or agriculture/animal husbandry, having a product with TRL 6-9 ready to be tested in a real environment.
• Have not participated in previous editions of the Test Farms.
• Have developed an innovative solution* in aquaculture and/or agriculture/animal husbandry, having a product with TRL 6-9 ready to be tested in real environment.

Each application must:

• Be complete, with all mandatory application documents uploaded.  Please, note that the pitch deck is required to be uploaded.
• Be submitted on time via our submission template.  
• Be fully written in English.

How to apply: MyEITFood Portal 

Communication of the results: 18th of February 2026