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Strong momentum for the BEANS Network’s first Working Group meeting
25 February 2026 – The BEANS Network launched its first Working Group meeting, bringing together an impressive number of 48 institutions from 16 countries and confirming the growing momentum across its international community.
This inaugural session marked an important step in strengthening collaboration among research, technical, and institutional partners, united by a shared ambition: advancing innovation and impact for pulses within Mediterranean and global agri-food systems.
Focusing on European opportunities
Discussions highlighted strategic funding and cooperation opportunities under Horizon Europe, as well as potential synergies with EIT Food. These frameworks offer valuable pathways to support research excellence, foster innovation, and develop high-impact projects for pulse-based value chains.
Participants expressed clear priorities to:
Make BEANS a leading knowledge hub;
Unlock capacity through twinning;
Forge strong synergies with European initiatives;
Drive bold, holistic project ideas.
New avenues for collaboration
Several emerging themes were identified for future cooperation, including plant protein research, community engagement, and mapping members’ expertise to accelerate the development of competitive proposals.
To push this forward, BEANS will organize two to three thematic sessions between April and June, aimed at gauging partners’ interest in leading or contributing to future Horizon Europe clusters (2027 calls). Consultations will also be launched with complementary programmes such as PRIMA to reinforce the visibility of pulses in upcoming funding opportunities.
With high energy, expanding participation, and concrete collaboration plans already underway, the BEANS Network is moving forward decisively—strengthening partnerships and accelerating action towards more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems.
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