Lantmännen Research Foundation has opened its 2026 funding call, offering SEK 25 million (around €2.3M) across three focus areas: agriculture and machinery, food and health, and bioenergy and green materials. The latter two categories prioritise research into grain and legume-based foods and bio-based materials. The call is open to researchers at universities, colleges and institutes in Sweden and internationally.
Grain and legume ingredients are a focus area
Under the food and health category, the foundation is funding research into foods and ingredients of the future based on grains and legumes, alongside projects addressing nutrition, whole grain consumption and the functional properties of plant-based raw materials. The bioenergy and green materials category supports research that converts agricultural raw materials and processing side streams into biofuels, green materials and other bio-based products, including future biorefinery concepts.
The call follows a SEK 300 million (around €27.3M) capital contribution that Swedish agricultural cooperative Lantmännen recently made to the foundation, intended to extend its long-term capacity to fund external research.
“We could see that there was a lack of both funding and initiative for research and innovation in our industry. We felt a responsibility to act and had the means to do so,” said Jan-Erik Hansson, Chairman of the Board at Lantmännen.
A research programme dating back to 1986
Lantmännen Research Foundation has funded research across the agricultural value chain since 1986. Previous calls have supported projects on legume processing, whole grain and fibre research, and biodegradable plastics, among other areas, with around 20 projects funded annually.
Lantmännen has consistently invested in research for plant-based ingredients, including its backing of the PAN Sweden research consortium and its SEK 1.2 billion investment in a pea and faba protein facility in Lidköping, Sweden.
This year’s call also coincides with the launch of a newsletter for researchers, farmers and others, covering open calls, funded projects and results, set to be published four to six times a year.
Applicants encouraged to make contact before submitting
Researchers are encouraged to contact the foundation before submitting applications to discuss project ideas and the resources Lantmännen can offer.
“Applicants are welcome to contact us before submitting their applications, to discuss project ideas and hear more about Lantmännen’s opportunities to offer raw materials, products or other resources for the project,” stated Helena Fredriksson, Head of Research at Lantmännen Research Foundation.
