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The projectOECIFA it's
The OECIFA project – Organisation for a Euroregional Chain of Inclusive Food Archipelagos – contributes to tackling food vulnerability by promoting sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
This cross-border cooperation brings together expertise to build an autonomous and resilient food system.
Despite the strong food production potential of the territories covered by the former mining area stretching from Nord-Pas-de-Calais to the Charleroi region (exceeding 100%), these areas remain highly dependent on food imports.
This dependency weakens food systems in the face of:
- climate crises ;
- economic tensions ;
- ecosystem degradation (soil, water, biodiversity).
In addition, social precarity and the lack of short supply chains further increase food insecurity.
Theproject partners
Cross-border cooperation
The project is based on close collaboration between stakeholders from Wallonia (BE) and the Hauts-de-France region (FR).
This cooperation enables the sharing of expertise and experiences to address food and climate challenges collectively.
Complementary strengths
Wallonia has developed initiatives such as food belts.
Hauts-de-France is experimenting with agroecological practices.
Together, these dynamics contribute to building an innovative and replicable model.
Consortium
The project is carried out by a network of committed organisations.
FromBelgium
Charleroi Métropole Food Belt
The Charleroi Métropole Food Belt (CACM) is a territorial facilitator. Its mission is to contribute to the transition towards a resilient territory by developing a local, sustainable and environmentally friendly food system involving all stakeholders in the food chain, within a local, inclusive and solidarity-based social economy framework.
Espace Environnement
Espace Environnement is a non-profit organisation based in Charleroi and active for more than 50 years. Founded in 1972, it places citizen participation and quality of life at the heart of its work.
The organisation works to improve living environments in the broad sense — environment, mobility, housing and food systems — by facilitating citizen and stakeholder participation. Its approach is based on a simple belief: the best solutions emerge when people who live in a territory are involved in the decisions that affect it.
La Fédération des Services Sociaux
Founded in 1970, the Federation of Social Services (FdSS) is a non-profit organisation bringing together and representing social services in Wallonia and Brussels.
It develops projects, training courses and expertise around social work and access to fundamental rights, particularly the rights to food, water and energy.
For over 10 years, its Food Aid Platform has brought together organisations active in this sector — social grocery stores, social restaurants, distribution centres, public social welfare centres and associations — around a shared objective: strengthening access to rights for people experiencing precarity.
FromNorth of France
Les Anges Gardins
Founded in 1998 and established in the former mining basin since 2011, Les Anges Gardins operates at the crossroads of social inclusion, sustainable agriculture and popular education.
Its mission is to guarantee access to quality food for people experiencing precarity, support pathways to employment for those excluded from the labour market, and contribute to the transition towards more sustainable and territorialised food systems.
To achieve this, the organisation relies on several complementary initiatives — food eco-hubs, the PANIERS scheme, MANNE, CALIEN and the Places à VivreS — all working towards fairer food systems.
Nœux Environnement
With more than 30 years of experience, Nœux Environnement works to support the ecological and social transition of territories.
Its actions focus on preserving natural environments, developing sustainable agricultural practices and tackling social vulnerabilities, particularly food insecurity.
The organisation develops environmental education activities, ecological engineering projects and work integration initiatives through practical tools such as organic market gardening, natural area management and production workshops.
AFEJI Hauts-de-France
AFEJI Hauts-de-France works towards social inclusion for all and is involved in organic market gardening and mobile sales of organic products through its “A portée de main” shared garden initiative.
La Ferme Urbaine du Trichon
Created in 2017 and located in the heart of Roubaix on a 9,000 m² brownfield site, the Urban Farm of Trichon operates at the intersection of urban agriculture, ecological transition and citizen involvement.
Its mission is to restore living soil on a former industrial wasteland, produce local and accessible food, and empower residents to regain control over their food systems.
The project combines several complementary components — a shared garden, a self-harvest market garden and a third place dedicated to short supply chains — all contributing to a more resilient and inclusive city.
Ouractions
Structuring an ecological and food network
- Mapping agricultural and natural areas
- Integrating food-related challenges into local public policies
- Raising awareness about green and blue infrastructure
- Engaging territorial stakeholders
Innovative solutions for degraded soil regeneration
- Experimenting with soil restoration solutions and monitoring indicators
- Producing educational materials and best practice guides for soil improvement
Involving citizens and local stakeholders
- Deployment of the “Places à VivreS”
- Raising awareness and mobilising residents and food system stakeholders through a collective approach
- Integrating major risks into public protection policies
