Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for sustainable and competitive agriculture, forestry, agri-food and bio-based sectors

SMEs can play a crucial role in developing resource-efficient and cost-effective solutions to secure sufficient supplies of safe, healthy and high quality food and other bio-based products, by developing productive, sustainable and resource-efficient primary production systems, fostering related ecosystem services and the recovery of biological diversity, alongside competitive and low-carbon supply, processing and marketing chains. Actions under this topic are expected to contribute to one or a combination of several challenges addressed by Societal Challenge 2 of Horizon 2020 with regard to terrestrial resources (i.e. 2.1 ' Sustainable agriculture and forestry', 2.2 ' Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet' and 2.4 ' Sustainable and competitive bio-based industries and supporting the development of a European bioeconomy'). Particular attention should be given to :

• Advancing innovations in Integrated Pest Management
• Resource-efficient eco-i