Food Safety Innovations in Africa (Up to €600,000 in Funding)
FS4Africa, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative, has officially launched its first Open Call to support groundbreaking, Africa-based solutions that address urgent food safety challenges.
A total of €600,000 in funding will be awarded to at least ten (10) innovative projects, with each selected project eligible for up to €60,000 in direct support.
This funding program is designed to empower local innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers to drive transformation in Africa’s food systems, particularly in the informal sector, in order to improve public health, trade, and long-term sustainability across the continent.
About FS4Africa
Launched in 2024, FS4Africa focuses on:
- Improving food safety and traceability systems across Africa.
- Addressing critical risks such as mycotoxins, pesticide residues, and microbial contamination.
- Building inclusive food systems that serve both informal and formal markets.
- Supporting the incubation and scaling of food safety solutions through regional innovation hubs.
- Co-developing tools and policies that influence governments, regulators, and markets.
Who Can Apply?
The Open Call is open to individual applicants only (no consortia). Eligible applicants include:
- Start-ups
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Research institutions
- Multidisciplinary organizations
Applicants must be legally registered and based in an African country.
Eligible Project Areas
Applications are welcome for both new innovations and enhancements of existing solutions that address one or more of the following food safety challenges:
- Weak value chain organization, traceability, and food authentication.
- Mycotoxin contamination in crops and animal feed.
- Pesticide residues in grains, vegetables, and other produce.
- Microbial contamination (e.g., E. coli and other pathogens).
- Food adulteration and fraud.
Funding Details
- FS4Africa will cover 100% of eligible costs for selected projects.
- Each project will run for 12 months, beginning in February 2026.
- All applications and proposals must be submitted in English.
How to Apply
- Prepare a detailed proposal in English.
- Submit your application exclusively via the FS4Africa platform: opencalls.fund
(Applications submitted through any other channel will not be considered.) - For clarifications, consult the FAQ section on the application platform or send an email to fs4africa@opencalls.fund (before 25 September 2025, 17:00 CET).
Application Deadline: 30 September 2025
