Call Deadline: 02.12.2026 13:00 (CET/Oslo Time)
Available Budget for Nordic partners: up to 115 MNOK
Available Budget for Estonian partners: up to 300 000 EUR
Available Budget for Lithuanian partners: up to 420 000 EUR
Amount of funding that may be sought to Nordic partners in a project: up to 15 MNOK
Funding for Estonian and Lithuanian partners, see the national annexes.
The aim is to fund approximately ten Nordic or Nordic/Baltic research projects.
Background
The Nordic and Baltic food system faces risks from climate change, geopolitical instability, and disruptions in global trade and co-operation. Although supply chains for major imports are generally stable, the region is still vulnerable to market shocks and trade restrictions.
Access to food and feed varies between sectors, geography and countries; some export while others rely on import. Food security is therefore influenced not only by production capacity, but also by logistics, storage capacities, cross-border co-operations and the optimal use of regional resources, including sea food, meat and plant-based food. Risks arise from disruptions to logistics and transport routes, challenges related to import and export flows, food distribution, and access to critical inputs. These vulnerabilities are further reinforced by geographic constraints and dependencies related to energy, fuel and infrastructure.
Solving these challenges requires research-based knowledge for food system actors and policymakers. Scientific contributions may help assess the impact of climate events or geopolitical uncertainties on food production, processing, distribution and access. The outcomes can guide strategies to reduce dependency, strengthen domestic capacity, and improve cross-border coordination, including adjusting food production and harvesting during crises.
The Karlstad Declaration (19 June 2024) underscores the need for joint Nordic efforts to enhance food preparedness and resilience through coordinated policy, planning, and research. Collaboration across sectors and strengthened scientific co-operation are vital for securing regional food systems in emergencies.
NATO’s Civil Emergency Planning Committee (CEPC) mandates secure and sustainable access to food and water as one of its seven requirements for member states.
Aim and thematic framework
The overall objective of this call is to support research and innovation projects that strengthen food security by enhancing the resilience of food systems across the Nordic and Baltic region through improved crisis preparedness, resilient support systems, and shifts in consumer behavior:
- Advancing integrated approaches that connect technological, organisational, and institutional innovation
- Addressing both short-term shocks and long-term systemic stresses
- Strengthening the capacity of food systems to anticipate, respond to, and transform in the face of disruptions
- Supporting evidence-based policy development and implementation
The aim is to fund projects involving parts of the land-based value chain and parts of the sea food-based value chain, or combined projects.
Projects must address food security within at least one of these areas:
1. Transnational/(transregional) preparedness and crisis response in food systems
Research under this theme should strengthen Nordic and Baltic preparedness for food system shocks caused by climate change, natural hazards, geopolitical events or other systemic risks. This includes tools, models and frameworks for risk assessment, scenario planning, crisis management and coordinated emergency response across food system value chains.
2. Resilience and interdependencies of critical infrastructure
This theme addresses the resilience and interdependencies of critical infrastructure supporting food production and distribution, such as transport, storage, energy and digital systems. Research should identify vulnerabilities, bottlenecks and cascading risks across agricultural and seafood supply chains and explore options for restructuring and strengthening these systems under future uncertainty.
3. Consumer behavior and increased use of Nordic and Baltic produced food
Strengthening food security also depends on consumer choices and market demand. In particular demand for locally and regionally produced food is a key factor for ensuring stable access to food in all parts of the Nordic and Baltic region. This theme focuses on consumer attitudes, preferences and barriers related to choosing healthy, affordable, and locally or regionally produced food.
Research may address how factors such as culture, price, availability, information, labelling and policy incentives influence food choices, and how diets based on Nordic and Baltic resources can support food system resilience, sustainability, public health and preparedness.
Stakeholder involvement
Projects are expected to include appropriate stakeholders and end users in the co-development and co-leadership of the project. Engagement with other sectors, as appropriate, are expected to identify implementation barriers as well as help develop strategies and systemic approaches to overcome them. Read more about stakeholder involvement in the full call text.
Funding
This call is announced as a collaborative effort between the Research Council of Norway, the Agriculture and Food Industry Research Funds (Norway), Formas (Sweden), Research Council of Finland, Research Council Faroe Islands, Rannis (Iceland), Estonian Research Council, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Research Council of Lithuania, and NordForsk.
Webinar
NordForsk will host a webinar for researchers and stakeholders interested in the call 19 August 2026 at 10.00 (CEST).
Question and answers
Do you have questions related to the call? Please contact: food26-qa@nordforsk.org
Phrase the question in general terms as the question and the answer will be published. We update the questions & answers section continuously, and you will shortly find a reply to your question below.
