The Federation of European Manufacturers and Suppliers of Ingredients to the Bakery, Confectionery and Patisserie Industries (Fedima) has extended the application deadline for its sustainability grant programme until 15 August 2025, responding to growing interest from across the sector.

The Fedima Grant for Local Sustainable Initiatives provides €20,000 in funding to small businesses, bakeries, craft bakers, and research institutes developing sustainable solutions across the bakery, patisserie and confectionery sectors. The programme specifically targets projects that deliver environmental, social and economic progress within the industry.

Targeting Small-Scale Innovation

To qualify for funding, applicants must be small businesses, bakeries, craft bakers, or research institutes based in Europe (EU + EFTA, UK, Turkey) that are actively engaged in the bakery, patisserie, or confectionery food chain. The programme uses the European Commission's definition of small business, requiring an annual turnover of less than €10 million.

The grant excludes Fedima members, company members of Fedima national associations and affiliated entities, ensuring the programme reaches independent operators across the European bakery landscape.

Addressing Industry Sustainability Challenges

The grant programme encompasses a broad range of sustainability initiatives addressing current industry challenges. Priority areas include circular economy approaches and waste reduction strategies, sustainable packaging solutions, and responsible sourcing practices. Energy efficiency improvements, water management systems, nutrition and health innovations, and food affordability and availability also fall within the programme's scope.

This comprehensive approach reflects the industry's recognition that sustainable development requires integrated solutions addressing environmental, social and economic factors simultaneously.

Structured Application and Selection Process

The €20,000 grant amount is disbursed through a phased approach: 50% upfront, 30% during the implementation phase, and 20% upon completion of the project and submission of results. This structure ensures accountability whilst providing initial funding for project launch.

Applications require comprehensive documentation including completed application forms, GANTT charts, outcome matrices, budget details and official bank statements. Supporting materials such as presentations or video summaries may accompany mandatory documentation to strengthen applications.

The selection process evaluates three criteria: innovation in sustainable development solutions, community impact through meaningful local benefits and industry impact with potential for wider adoption. This framework ensures selected projects demonstrate both immediate value and scalability potential.

Implementation Timeline

The extended deadline provides additional time for applicants to develop comprehensive proposals. Applications must be submitted by 15 August 2025, with shortlisted candidates notified by the end of August 2025. The final decision will be announced on 30 September 2025, followed by grant agreement signing within 15 days of the decision notification.

This timeline allows for thorough evaluation whilst ensuring successful projects can commence implementation before the end of 2025.

Industry Leadership and Strategic Vision

Jean-Philippe Michaux, Chair of Fedima's Sustainability Committee, positions sustainability as "a necessity for the long-term resilience of our industry and the communities it serves." This perspective aligns with Thomas Lesaffre, President of Fedima, who emphasises the programme's role in "inspiring broader industry-wide progress" through supporting leading sustainable practices.

The grant programme forms part of Fedima's broader mission to create a favourable policy environment for sustainable and innovative bakery industry development. The organisation recognises that supporting local initiatives can generate scalable solutions addressing industry-wide challenges including circular economy implementation, waste reduction, responsible sourcing, sustainable packaging and energy efficiency improvements.

Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted in English through the official portal at grant.fedima.org or by email to grant@fedima.org with the subject line "Call for Proposals – Sustainability Grant."

The programme represents a bi-annual commitment from Fedima to support local sustainability initiatives that can deliver measurable outcomes and demonstrate potential for industry-wide implementation, positioning the European bakery sector as a leader in sustainable food production.

With the extended deadline providing additional opportunities for innovative projects to emerge, the industry will be watching closely to see which initiatives capture Fedima's attention and funding. The selected projects are likely to set new benchmarks for sustainability practices across the European bakery sector.