BUNDESMINISTERIUM FUR LANDWIRTSCHAFT, ERNAHRUNG UND HEIMAT

Their core work

Germany's Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Community (BMEL) is the national policy authority responsible for agriculture, food safety, forestry, and rural development. In H2020, it acts as a funding body and strategic coordinator for ERA-NET Cofund actions, channeling national research funds into transnational calls on sustainable agriculture, food systems, and climate-land interactions. Its role is to align German agricultural research priorities with European agendas and co-fund cross-border research projects — it does not conduct research itself but shapes which research gets done and ensures German participation in priority areas.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2017), BMEL focused on foundational agricultural productivity — sustainable intensification, biomass and biorefinery uses, resource efficiency, and animal production systems. From 2018 onward, the emphasis shifted decisively toward climate resilience, biodiversity, food security under climate stress, and digital agriculture. This mirrors Germany's broader policy pivot from agricultural growth toward environmental sustainability and climate adaptation in the food sector.

BMEL is moving toward climate adaptation, One Health (linking animal disease to food security), and digital transformation of agriculture — expect future calls in these intersections.

How they like to work

BMEL participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with its role as a national funding ministry that co-finances ERA-NET actions rather than leading research. With 155 unique partners across 49 countries, it operates as a high-connectivity hub linking diverse national funding agencies and research councils. Working with BMEL means access to German national co-funding streams and alignment with German agricultural policy priorities.

Exceptionally broad network: 155 unique partners across 49 countries, reflecting the multi-country nature of ERA-NET cofund actions. Geographic reach extends well beyond Europe into Africa and the Americas through projects like FOSC and ICRAD.

What sets them apart

BMEL is not a research performer — it is the German government's gateway for transnational agricultural research funding. Partnering with BMEL means your ERA-NET proposal aligns with German national priorities and can access German co-funding. No other German organization plays this exact role in H2020 food and agriculture ERA-NETs, making it the essential institutional partner for any consortium seeking German participation in these calls.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ForestValue
  Largest single project (EUR 958K) — signals Germany's strategic investment in forest-based bioeconomy as a climate solution.
• ICRAD
  Second-largest funding (EUR 876K) and a shift into animal disease and antimicrobial resistance, connecting agriculture to global health security.
• FOSC
  Bridges food security with climate change across three continents (Africa, Americas, Europe), reflecting BMEL's expanding global engagement.