The Roullier Endowment Fund is launching its second call for soil research proposals!
2026–2029 : A Second Call for Research Proposals on the Topic of Soils
On January 22, 2026, the Roullier Endowment Fund will launch its second call for research proposals, “AAP Recherche Sols 2026-29: Toward Better Understanding and Sustainable Soil Management: Ecosystem Services and Innovations.” It will enable project leaders working in the public interest to receive funding ranging from €200,000 to €400,000 per project! This is a significant amount to carry out ambitious projects.
This call for proposals (AAP) is part of the Roullier Endowment Fund’s mission to support sustainable and high-performing agriculture, with a particular focus on improving the quality of agricultural soils. The goal of this call for proposals is to encourage ambitious, innovative, multi-partner research projects of public interest both in France and internationally by providing substantial financial support to future grantees for a period of 3 to 5 years.
Themes Supported :
The main themes supported by the AAP are :
- Ecosystem services provided by soils in agricultural landscapes. This topic may overlap with several disciplines, such as ecology, soil science, sociology, economics, law, and agronomy… Soil ecosystem services are classified into four categories: provisioning services; regulating services; cultural services; and supporting or self-maintenance services. Projects may, for example, focus on the assessment or valuation of these services; the synergies and conflicts among these services; land-use conflicts and soil governance…
- Innovations for soil quality. This theme may involve precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, biology, etc. Disruptive solutions are expected rather than incremental ones.
Guidelines for Participating in the 2026–2029 Call for Proposals
Funding awarded per project will range from €200,000 to a maximum of €400,000 for projects with an overall budget ranging from €200,000 to several million euros. In addition to funding, the Roullier Endowment Fund will provide technical support to project leaders. The funding awarded through this call for proposals will cover the engineering component of the projects.
The application period runs from January 22, 2026, to April 6, 2026. Details of the call for proposals, the application package, and the terms of participation are available on this page. This year, the application process will take place in two phases to streamline the process for project leaders.
Apply for the Call for Proposals
In 2026, only projects that demonstrate an effective contribution to one of the two themes of the call for proposals will be selected.
The selection process will take place in two phases:
Phase 1: Project leaders may apply for this call for proposals between January 22, 2026, and midnight on April 6, 2026. They must complete the online form and upload the concept note in PDF format to the designated field on the form.
Experts will evaluate the various projects between April 6 and May 25, 2026. Approximately ten projects will be selected to proceed to Phase 2.
Phase 2: The project leader must complete an application package that will be sent to them (more comprehensive than the concept note) and will be interviewed by the jury for approximately 30 minutes. The interview may take place in person or via videoconference; the choice is at the discretion of the project leader.
Target Project Leaders
This call for proposals is open to both French and European project leaders. The administrative project leader who signs the agreement must be French or European, but the scientific leadership may be international. The project should primarily take place in the following regions: France and Europe and/or the Maghreb and/or Latin America and/or India and/or North America.
For-profit organizations and individuals are not eligible for this call for proposals.
How to Respond to the Call for Proposals
To apply for the 2026–2029 call for research proposals on the topic of soils, please fill out the online form below and upload the concept note below in PDF format to the designated field in the form by midnight on April 6, 2026.
Available documents :
FAQ – Call for Proposals
What are the key dates for the Call for Proposals?
- Application deadline: April 6, 2026
- Announcement of projects selected in Phase 1: the week of May 25, 2026
- For projects selected in Phase 1: submission of the complete application by August 17, 2026
What is the amount of the proposed funding, and what does it cover?
The amount of funding awarded can range from €200,000 to €400,000 per project, spread over a period of 3 to 5 years. No fixed funding rate is required. Preference will be given to multi-partner projects with diversified funding sources.
Regarding eligible costs :
- Eligible: small equipment and supplies (e.g., agricultural tarps, seeds, seedlings, inputs, etc.). Overhead costs (rate not fixed but between 10 and 15 percent), as well as personnel expenses allocated to the project (salaries for students, doctoral candidates, and fixed-term employees, etc.).
- Not eligible: major capital investments that can be depreciated over several years.
Do projects have to be located in a specific geographic area ?
The project’s administrative sponsor must be based in France and/or Europe. The project may be implemented primarily in the following regions:
- France and Europe
- Maghreb
- Latin America
- India
- North America
What documents must be included in the application package?
To apply, you must:
- Complete the online form,
- Submit the completed concept note, using the template provided in the call for proposals.
Additional documentation will be requested in Phase 2 for preselected projects.
Is the funding paid out in one or more installments?
Funding is paid out in installments, based on the project’s deadlines and milestones. The payment schedule will be specified in the agreement signed with the successful applicants.