Sustainability Grant

The grant supports a local initiative that contributes to the sustainable development and innovation of the bakery and patisserie sector.

Sustainable development refers to initiatives that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In this grant, sustainable development focuses on promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainability within the bakery and patisserie sector. This includes innovations in areas such as circular economy, waste reduction, responsible sourcing, sustainable packaging, and energy efficiency, while fostering positive impacts on the community and industry.

Innovation refers to the introduction of novel solutions, ideas, or methods that contribute to the sustainable development of the bakery and patisserie sector. This could include original approaches to production techniques, development of new, sustainable product offerings or creative ways to address challenges such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, or responsible sourcing.

Community impact refers to the meaningful benefits that a project brings to the local community. This includes promoting engagement, addressing specific social or environmental needs, improving access to resources, supporting marginalized groups, or fostering education and awareness. A project with strong community impact generates tangible and measurable outcomes that improve the quality of life for the people it serves.

Industry impact relates to the long-term growth, sustainability, and innovation of the bakery and patisserie sector. A project with significant industry impact demonstrates how its solutions can be scaled up, replicated, or adopted more widely, setting an example for economic viability and sustainable practices. This may include introducing innovative technologies, processes, or products that strengthen the sector’s resilience and competitiveness.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be a small business (e.g., craft baker, bakery, small producer) or a research institute. To determine whether an applicant qualifies as a small business, the European Commission’s definition will be used, which considers a small business as one with an annual turnover of less than €10 million[1].
• Operate within the bakery, patisserie, or confectionery food chain.
• Be based in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK, or Turkey).
• Not be a Fedima member, a company member of a national association of Fedima, or any affiliated entity.
• Propose an initiative aligned with sustainability objectives.

[1] European Commission, SME definition. Available at: SME definition – European Commission.

The grant amount is €20,000, disbursed in three instalments:

• 50% upfront.
• 30% during the implementation phase.
• 20% upon completion of the project and submission of results.

The overarching objective of this initiative is to promote and contribute to the sustainable development of the bakery and patisserie sector. To achieve this, three specific judging criteria have been identified:

1. Innovation: Does the initiative introduce novel solutions that promote the sustainable development of the bakery and patisserie sector? Does it showcase originality and ingenuity in areas such as production techniques, product innovation, or process improvements?
2. Community Impact: How does the initiative create meaningful benefits for the community? Does it promote engagement, generate positive social and environmental outcomes, or address specific needs at the community level?
3. Industry Impact: Does the project contribute to the long-term growth and sustainability of the bakery sector? Does it set an example for economic viability and encourage wider adoption within the industry?

Projects will be evaluated based on how well they align with these criteria while addressing the overall goal of fostering sustainable practices within the bakery and patisserie sector.

Initiatives should align with sustainability and innovation goals and may address topics such as (but not limited to):

• Circular economy (e.g., reuse of by-products).
• Waste reduction (e.g., minimising single-use materials).
• Energy emissions (e.g., increasing CO2 efficiency).
• Water management (e.g., reducing water consumption).
• Sustainable packaging (e.g., reusable plastic solutions).
• Responsible sourcing (e.g., traceability solutions).
• Nutrition & Health (e.g., plant-based innovation).
• Affordability/Availability of food (e.g., affordable bakery products).

These are the submission options:

• By e-mail to the following address: grant@fedima.org, with the title “Call for Proposals – Sustainability Grant” as the subject line of the email. All documents must be submitted in PDF format, except for supporting documents, which may be provided in their original format (Max. size 25 MB).
• Through the website: via the official submission portal at www.grant.fedima.org

Before submitting your application, please ensure the following documents are included:

Mandatory Documents:

• Completed application form (using the provided template, fully completed, signed, stamped, and dated).
• GANTT chart (Annex I).
• Outcome matrix (Annex II).
• Budget (Annex III).
• Official bank statement (on headed paper, signed, and stamped) – Required from all applicants to verify bank details in case of grant selection.

Voluntary Documents:

• Supporting documents, such as:
  1. PowerPoint presentation summarizing your project.
  2. A short video (up to 2 minutes) showcasing your proposal or team.
  3. Graphs, reports, visuals, or other materials that add clarity or creativity to your application.
• Please note that supporting documents should be concise and relevant and within the acceptable file size limit for successful submission.

All documents must be submitted in PDF format, except for supporting documents, which may be provided in their original format.

Applicants can direct clarification requests to grant@fedima.org before the clarification deadline.

No, incomplete applications or applications missing required documents will be rejected.

Funded initiatives must:

• Provide measurable outcomes aligned with the project objectives.
• Submit regular progress updates, including key milestones and outcomes.
• Collaborate with Fedima on content creation and project amplification.

Applicants should identify potential risks that may hinder achieving the project’s key objectives: innovation, community impact, and industry impact. These include technical or feasibility challenges with proposed solutions, limited engagement or participation from the target community, and barriers to scaling or adopting the project’s outcomes within the bakery and patisserie sector. Mitigation strategies should be outlined to address these risks and ensure the project’s success.

Yes, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their project results can be scaled up and sustained beyond the 12-month grant period.

The initiative can be either new or ongoing, provided it aligns with the sustainability objectives outlined in the call for applications and demonstrates measurable impacts.

Applicants are required to use the provided templates:

• A GANTT chart to outline the implementation plan and key milestones.
• An Outcome matrix to specify the expected results and their measurable impact.

Applicants should provide as much detail as possible, ensuring the proposal is viable, innovative, and realistic. Clear objectives, a timeline, and an estimated budget are essential to demonstrate feasibility.

No, applicants are allowed to submit only one initiative for consideration.

While initiatives must align with at least one of the eligible topics, they should aim for a holistic positive impact on all three ESG pillars. Proposals should describe how the initiative contributes to environmental, social, and governance sustainability.

Delays or challenges must be communicated promptly to Fedima. A revised plan may be requested to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives and timeline.

No, only costs specified in the detailed and itemized budget submitted with the application will be eligible for funding. It is important to include all anticipated costs in the proposal.

Applicants must provide a clear and itemized budget using the provided template in Annex III, detailing costs such as personnel, travel, and materials. Transparency is essential for approval.

Yes, collaborations are encouraged if they strengthen the initiative’s impact and align with its objectives. Details of partnerships should be clearly described in the application.

While there is no strict word or page limit, applications should be concise, clear, and comprehensive, while ensuring that all required fields and templates are completed as specified.

No, all applications and supporting documents must be submitted in English to ensure consistency in the evaluation process.

While feedback may not be guaranteed for all applications, shortlisted candidates who are not selected may request a brief explanation from Fedima’s Sustainability Committee.

If you have been pre-selected, you will be invited to present your initiative through a 5–10-minute video. Detailed guidelines for the video presentation format will be communicated to you upon selection. After reviewing the presentations, the final decision will be announced.

If your initiative is granted funding:

1. A Grant Agreement will be signed between your organisation and Fedima.
2. The grant funds will be disbursed in three instalments:
   • 50% upfront, upon signing the agreement.
   • 30% during the implementation phase, upon meeting key milestones.
   • 20% upon project completion, after submitting the final results.

1. Scope & Objectives: A description of the initiative, its goals, and expected outcomes.
2. Funding Terms: The disbursement schedule (50% upfront, 30% during implementation, 20% upon completion) and conditions for each installment.
3. Responsibilities of the Grant Recipient: Obligations related to project execution, reporting, and adherence to agreed milestones.
4. Fedima’s Responsibilities: Oversight of fund distribution, review of progress reports, and promotion of the selected initiative.
5. Monitoring & Reporting: Requirements for progress updates, key deliverables, and final project results.
6. Termination & Compliance: Conditions under which the grant may be revoked if obligations are not met.

The Grant Agreement will be signed no later than 15 days since the notification of the decision.