CAP and CSR Calls for Proposals 2026: What’s New and How to Access Funding

2026 is a crucial year for Italian agricultural businesses : between European funds, regional calls for proposals, and national incentives, billions of euros are available for the modernization and digitalization of the primary sector. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) continues to be the main instrument of economic support, supported by new funding opportunities such as regional CSR calls for proposals , the ISMEA Innovation Fund , and the Industry 4.0 tax credit . However, navigating deadlines, requirements, and procedures can be complex.

In this article, we’ll discuss new opportunities related to the CAP and the 2026 CSR calls for proposals planned for the agricultural sector, providing practical guidelines on how to obtain available funding and which investments are strategic for agricultural businesses.

The importance of the CAP in the future of agriculture

The Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP ) is a set of rules and funding mechanisms designed to support agriculture and safeguard food security across Europe. These include ensuring adequate living conditions and income, promoting appropriate and responsible use of resources, safeguarding the EU’s rural areas and strengthening their economies, and ultimately incentivizing the agri-food industry.

For the 2023-2027 period, the CAP sets ten objectives , covering social, environmental, and economic issues. Specifically:

1. Ensure a fair income for farmers.
2. Strengthening competitiveness .
3. Elevating the role of farmers in the food supply chain .
4. Tackling climate change .
5. Defend the environment .
6. Protecting the territory and biodiversity .
7. Promote generational transition .
8. Increase rural areas
9. Safeguarding food quality and health .
10. Implement information and innovation .

The CAP 2023-2027 continues with a budget of €387 billion . In the 2026 EU budget, approximately €53.3 billion has been confirmed for the Common Agricultural Policy . However, the modalities for granting access to the funds and the green conditionality parameters have yet to be established.

What changes in 2026 compared to previous years

This section will briefly explore the main changes introduced in 2026: there will be no drastic changes, but rather revisions, which were already underway last year.

First, regarding controls , the AMS (Area Monitoring System) is in place, which uses satellite images to verify the accuracy of the information provided in the single application. However, this method is prone to errors; therefore, farmers should take geolocated photos of their fields.

Secondly, the Ecoschemes , BCAAs , and strengthened conditionality will be maintained. Here are the main features:

• The Ecoschemes represent five obligations aimed at improving the sustainability of agriculture. They are financed with 25% of the resources of the new CAP.
• The BCEAs are a set of rules requiring farmers to manage their land properly , prevent erosion , and maintain soil fertility . Compliance with these rules is necessary to access CAP funding.
• Enhanced conditionality specifies environmental and management requirements that farmers must meet in order to benefit from CAP solutions.

How to access the funds

Farmers wishing to invest in Industry 4.0 technologies can access various forms of financing : the ISMEA Innovation Fund, regional CSR calls for proposals, and the Industry 4.0 Tax Credit.

Table 1: The necessary information

The ISMEA Innovation Fund is a measure that supports agricultural businesses financially through grants , guarantees , and innovation projects . These projects aim to increase productivity through sensors , 4.0 platforms , and cutting-edge systems for the digitalization of business processes. This promotes water savings and reduces the use of chemicals. Furthermore, an additional €100 million from the Development and Cohesion Fund is planned for the two-year period 2026-2027 .

Specifically, according to the requirements for accessing the funds, individual and associated SMEs can access the incentives if:

1. They must be registered and active in the company register with the qualification of “ agricultural enterprise ” (pursuant to Article 1 of Legislative Decree No. 228 of 18 May 2001), or with the qualification of “ fishing enterprise ” (pursuant to Article 4 of Legislative Decree No. 4 of 9 January 2012), or, finally, with the qualification of “ agromechanical enterprise ” (pursuant to Article 5 of Legislative Decree No. 99 of 29 March 2004).
2. They must have been carrying out the activity for at least two years at the date of submission of the application.
3. They have an operational headquarters on the national territory .
4. They meet the criteria defining the concept of SME (with reference to the provisions of Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014, of Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2472 of 14 December 2022 or of Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2473 of 14 December 2022).

Although they fall into the categories indicated above, companies that:

1. They are in difficulty (pursuant to Article 2, point 18, of Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014).
2. They have benefited from aid deemed illegal or incompatible by the European Commission, and have failed to repay or deposited the amounts due into a blocked account.
3. They have exposures to banks classified as “ bad loans ”.
4. They are burdened by protests , enforcement procedures or prejudicial registrations .
5. They are considered in default with respect to the obligations arising from insurance, credit or financial services provided by ISMEA.
6. They are the recipients of provisions revoking benefits previously granted by ISMEA, with the exception of cases of waiver or full refund of the amounts due.
7. They are subject to the administrative sanctions provided for in Article 9, paragraph 2, letters c) and d), of Legislative Decree no. 8 June 2001. 231.
8. They are subject to judicial liquidation or are in a state of compulsory liquidation or preventive composition, or against which a proceeding is underway to access one of these procedures.
9. With reference to the subjects identified in Article 85 of Legislative Decree No. 159 of 6 September 2011 (“Anti-Mafia Code”), they are subject to the causes for forfeiture , suspension , or prohibition set forth in Article 67 of the same decree. The provisions set forth in Articles 88, paragraph 4-bis, and 92, paragraphs 2 and 3, of Legislative Decree No. 159 of 6 September 2011 remain applicable, with reference to anti-mafia communications and anti-mafia information, respectively.
10. They have already benefited from the benefits provided by the Decree.
11. As regards fishing companies , they have committed violations or administrative offences pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 4 of 9 January 2012 in the twelve months preceding the date of submission of the application.

Solutions that fall within the funds

From this perspective, technologies like Plantvoice can represent an effective solution, as plant monitoring sensors are among the technologies eligible for funding under Agriculture 4.0. Specifically, Plantvoice sensors monitor plant health in real time, providing detailed information on water and nutritional needs, characteristics compatible with the technological innovation and environmental sustainability requirements of the calls for proposals .

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about CAP and 2026 Calls

1. What is the deadline for submitting the CAP 2026 Single Application and when will the funds be disbursed?

The application must be submitted through the AGEA portal by May 15, 2026 , unless extended by the Ministry. Applications submitted after this date may be subject to a 1% reduction for each day of delay, generally up to 25 days after the deadline. Disbursements will begin on October 16, 2026. Thanks to new EU derogations, the advance payment for direct payments can reach 70% (instead of 50%), while for rural development measures it can reach 85%.

2. What are the specific deadlines for ISMEA calls for proposals open in 2026?

There are currently several calls for proposals, each with its own deadlines:

• ISMEA Investe 2026 : the deadline for submitting applications starts from 12 noon on January 8, 2026 and ends at 12 noon on May 15, 2026;
• Più Impresa 2025-2026 (aimed at young people aged between 18 and 41 and women with no age restrictions): active since last December 19, 2025, it is possible to access it until February 27, 2026. This benefit includes a non-repayable contribution of up to 35% and a zero-interest mortgage lasting 15 years.

3. What are the operational details of the 4.0 Tax Credit for agriculture in 2026?

The incentive provides a tax credit equal to 40% of the cost incurred for eligible investments, up to a maximum expenditure of 1 million euros per company .

The investment period runs from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. An extension to June 30, 2027, is expected if the order has been confirmed by the supplier by December 31, 2026, and a deposit of at least 20% of the total cost has been paid.

Discover how advanced monitoring technology can transform your farm: visit Plantvoice .