The Ceinture Alimentaire de Charleroi Métropole (CACM) is a territorial food-system animator focused on helping transform the local food system across Charleroi Métropole. It works with the full range of stakeholders involved in food — farmers, distributors, retailers, associations, public authorities, and citizens — to build a more resilient, local, sustainable, and environmentally respectful system. Its stated ambition is to help nourish all residents with healthy, fair, and living-world-respectful food, while operating within a local, inclusive, social-economy framework. Rather than acting as a conventional commercial company, CACM positions itself as a coordinator, facilitator, and advocate for collective change on a territory of 30 communes around Charleroi. Key Offerings Territorial coordination and facilitation : CACM brings together actors from the food chain, animates collective work, and helps structure shared projects around local food transition. Information and guidance on short supply chains : It acts as a reference point for short-circuit food in the territory and helps people orient themselves toward local food solutions. Supply-chain structuring support : CACM develops and facilitates short supply chains and social-economy projects, with an emphasis on filling missing links in the local food chain. Awareness-raising and education : The organization runs actions to sensitize producers, consumers, and other stakeholders to food-system transformation. Policy input and capitalisation : CACM shares experience, formulates recommendations, and advises public authorities on food-system issues. Core Values Healthy and fair food for all : CACM promotes access to food that is healthy, equitable, and respectful of living systems, including for more precarious publics and children. Agroecology and local production : It defends peasant, organic, diversified, seasonal, human-scale agriculture as the basis for a more sustainable food system. Economic justice : The organization seeks a viable model where margins are fairly shared along the chain and where producers can earn a dignified living. Co-construction and participation : CACM emphasizes concertation, transparency, and democratic decision-making with the actors most concerned. Cooperation and solidarity : It promotes solidarity across the chain and collaboration within Charleroi Métropole and beyond. Unique Aspects Territorial animator rather than a seller : CACM is not a product brand; it is a coordinating body that helps build and connect the local food ecosystem. Backed by SAW-B : The initiative is initiated and coordinated by SAW-B, a social-economy federation and support organization, which anchors CACM in the social economy. A 30-commune territory : Its action area covers 30 communes in and around Charleroi, including the south of the Botte du Hainaut and the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse region. Concrete collective governance tools : CACM has launched a Conseil de Politique Alimentaire and working groups on inclusion, supply chains, communication, and territorial analysis to turn strategy into action. Logistics and infrastructure development : A 2,000 m² short-circuit hub is being created, including a vegetable processing facility, a transformation workshop, a sales counter, and logistics for storage and distribution to local institutions and horeca.
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