Offers up to €60,000 per project in funding for innovative solutions

FS4Africa, a Horizon Europe-funded project dedicated to transforming food safety systems across the African continent, has officially launched its first Open Call for innovative solutions. With a total budget of €600,000, the initiative will provide financial support to at least ten selected projects, each eligible for up to €60,000 in funding.

Launched in January 2024, FS4Africa is focused on improving food safety across Africa, with particular attention to the informal sector. The project aims to foster local market transformation that enhances food security and regional trade while reducing negative impacts on the environment, biodiversity, health, and society.

Through this Open Call, FS4Africa will support pioneering concepts that address pressing food safety challenges on the continent. Applicants are invited to propose either a completely new innovative solution or to enhance existing solutions by building on tools, business concepts, or frameworks already developed within the FS4Africa project. While proposals do not need to align with FS4Africa’s existing Use Cases, they must address one of the following food challenges:

• Food safety issues associated with weak channels for value chain organisation, traceability & authentication of safe food
• Mycotoxin contamination in multiple food crops, including food and feed
• Pesticide residues in grains and vegetables
• Microbial contamination, particularly contamination from coliforms (e.g. Escherichia coli)
• Food adulteration

Who can apply?

The call is open to single applicants only—no consortia allowed. Eligible entities include start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research institutions, and multidisciplinary organisations established in African countries. The full application package is available online on the project website foodsafety4africa.eu.

How to apply?

Interested applicants must submit their applications exclusively via the dedicated platform at opencalls.fund. Submissions received through any other channel will not be considered and will be automatically discarded. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2025. Selected projects are expected to commence implementation in February 2026 and run for a duration of twelve months. FS4Africa will provide 100% funding of eligible costs.

All application materials (documents of the Open Call kit) must be submitted in English, which is the official language of the FS4Africa project and FS4Africa Open Call. The proposal evaluation and sub-grant agreement preparation will take place between October 2025 and January 2026.

All questions concerning the Call must be in writing and be stated in the FAQ section on the opencalls.fund platform or sent by e-mail to  . The deadline for asking clarification questions or requesting additional information is 17:00 CET on September 25th, 2025.

FS4Africa’s Open Call represents a significant step towards fostering locally grounded, high-impact solutions that can contribute to a more resilient, safe, and inclusive food system across Africa.