The OECD Cooperative Research Programme (CRP) on Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems has opened its Call for applications for international event sponsorship and research fellowship grants to be funded in 2026. The closing date for submission of applications is Wednesday 10 September 2025 (midnight CET).
The UK is amongst the currently 30 OECD countries participating in the CRP, which supports research collaboration related to the sustainable use of natural resources in agriculture, food, forestry and fisheries. Applications should fit in to one of the following three research themes, full details of which can be found in the CRP’s research theme document:
- Managing natural capital
- Strengthening resilience in the face of multiple risks in a connected world
- Transformational technologies and innovation
For this call, the CRP would particularly welcome applications in any of the following areas:
- Sustainable and resilient productivity growth and food security and nutrition
- Climate change mitigation, reducing emissions from agriculture and food systems, carbon sequestration in agriculture, forestry and land use
- Halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation
- Reducing the negative environmental impacts of livestock production and practices harmful to animal health and welfare, investigating the positive contribution livestock can make to soil quality and management, biodiversity and livelihoods
- Biodiversity, enhancing ecosystem services
- Improving soil health and water and air quality, including through agroecological and other innovative, context specific approaches
- Innovations in the transfer and development of agricultural knowledge, including indigenous and traditional knowledge
- Fisheries and aquaculture productivity, sustainability and resilience
The CRP normally supports up to 10 events (conferences, symposia) and around 20 fellowships each year; details are available of events and fellowships supported since 2020. The Event Sponsorship scheme aims to inform policy makers, industry and academia of current and future research, scientific developments and opportunities on issues relevant to the CRP and to OECD’s policy priorities – CRP funding supports the travel costs of invited speakers and contributes to the publication of event proceedings. Fellowships aim to strengthen the international exchange of ideas and increase international mobility and cooperation – the CRP provides support through bursaries covering travel and subsistence costs to research scientists who should have 4 years postdoctoral training and a long-term renewable position. Fellowships may be from 6 to 26 weeks.
Full details of the eligibility requirements, application process and selection criteria for both Event and Fellowship support can be found on the CRP’s website. To increase the chances of success, applicants should:
- Explicitly address all of the selection criteria in their application; and
- Liaise directly with the relevant Theme coordinator on the CRP Scientific Advisory Body before submitting an application, to ensure eligibility and fit to CRP aims and objectives. Details of Theme coordinators can be found in the CRP research theme document.
Further information also available from christopher.barker@defra.gov.uk or directly from the CRP Secretariat at TAD.PROG@oecd.org