The fellowship focuses on research addressing major challenges within plant, agricultural, and food science associated with developing sustainable agriculture and food production. The research should be fundamental in character with a clear and strategic outlook to improve sustainability or develop potential solutions. The proposed research should significantly extend existing knowledge beyond state-of-the-art and may have a high-risk profile. The research should be based on life science research disciplines.

Areas in scope include research focused on plants and microorganisms for food, fibre, materials or climate change mitigation that enhance productivity, resilience, and resource-use efficiency; development of agricultural-, food-, and forestry systems with higher productivity using less land, greater circularity, biodiversity, ecosystem functionality and minimal environmental impact; research on microorganisms or microbial communities for circular economy purposes; understanding food components and ingredients from plants, microbes, insects, and cellular agriculture with focus on functionality, safety, and technological aspects; merging food raw materials and ingredients to understand interplay in the food matrix to enhance quality; and development of methods and technologies, including data-driven approaches, to enable and support sustainable agriculture and food production.

Fellowships must be based at a university or other non-profit research institution in Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden. The grant period is between one and three years, with funding of up to DKK 3.3 million for a three-year project, plus additional allowances for research stays abroad. A minimum of one year must take place at the Nordic host institution. Applicants must have obtained a PhD within six years of the application deadline or be PhD students defending before April 1, 2026.

Funding can cover salary, research technician support, operating expenses, equipment, travel, relocation, conference participation, publication costs, and specific project supplements or bench fees depending on institutional eligibility. The application process will close on 21 August 2025, with notifications in December 2025 and earliest start date on 1 January 2026.

Applications will be assessed on novelty and originality, potential impact, feasibility, applicant achievements, and mobility experience. All applications must be submitted in English through the NORMA online system, accompanied by the required supporting documents, including hosting letters from the relevant institutions.

For more information, visit Novo Nordisk Fonden.