b'Declines in Bottom-Up Trend from FP7 toTrend from FP7 to Sub-programme Contributions Area Horizon 2020 Horizon EuropeAlong with the top-oriented Agrifood sub-programme, the non-oriented, bottom-upTotal FP Budget 30% 42%European Research Council (ERC) andTotal Breeding Funding 4% 9%*Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) sub-programmes, collectively account forERC Budget 49% 63%94% of funding for plant breeding R&I. ERC Breeding Funding 4% -8%*ERC funding has grown by 63% since FP7 and MSCA by 13%. But their allocationMSCA Budget 11% 13%to plant breeding is expected to drop byMSCA Breeding Funding -46% -63% *8% and 63% respectively compared to FP7, if trends from the first half of HorizonAgrifood Budget 70% 277%Europe continue. Agrifood Budget Funding -7% 12% *Consortium Size vs. Project BudgetsProjects related to plant breeding in the Agrifood sub-programmes have grown in consortium size from an average of 17 partners in FP7 to 21 in Horizon Europe. However, project budgets (around 5.5 to 5.9 million) and durations (4-5 years) have remained stable, suggesting reductions in funding per partner and limitations in the maximum duration of projects.Given that developing new plant varieties is a long-term effort, the current budgets do not support projects long enough for research outcomes to be applied effectively within their lifespan.Loss of momentum in the use of NGTs and GMThe use of innovative methods like New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) and Genetic Modification (GM) in plant breeding projects rose from 24% in FP7 to 37% in Horizon 2020 but has regressed in Horizon Europe due to regulatory uncertainties and restrictive research calls. GM usage has nearly disappeared, and the momentum for using NGTs has gone back to FP7 levels.FEBRUARY 2025|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 5'