CA-WAPI, the Ceinture Alimentaire de Wallonie Picarde, is a citizen- and farmer-led collective working to strengthen local food autonomy across Wallonia Picarde in Belgium. It brings together producers, citizens, associations, institutions, and economic actors around a shared goal: building a more local, durable, equitable, and resilient food system. The organization acts as a territorial facilitator rather than a conventional food company. It supports the development of agricultural supply chains, helps connect producers with consumers and collective catering, and promotes access to healthy, local food for a wider public. Its work combines coordination, advocacy, communication, and solidarity-based projects to make local food more accessible and better structured. CA-WAPI has grown from an initiative rooted in Tournai into a regional network covering the broader Wallonia Picarde area. It positions itself as part of a wider Walloon movement through Crealim, while keeping a strong local focus on practical projects, collective governance, and long-term food transition. Key Offerings Solidarity food baskets : Weekly baskets of organic vegetables are distributed at reduced prices to households with limited incomes. The project combines food access, cooking workshops, and support for local producers through a solidarity fund. Nourrir la WAPI festival : A territorial food-transition festival that combines debates, talks, farm visits, screenings, workshops, and cultural events. It is designed to raise awareness, connect stakeholders, and encourage action around sustainable food and agriculture. La Coop Alimentaire support : CA-WAPI helped create and continues to support a cooperative supply chain for organic fruits and vegetables from Wallonia Picarde. The cooperative supplies local canteens and shops and also offers related products such as soups and quiches. Network and territorial coordination : The organization maintains a regional network of producers and food actors, supports member engagement, and helps structure local initiatives around food transition, governance, and collaboration. Advocacy and awareness-raising : CA-WAPI produces communication tools, public events, and policy-facing initiatives to promote local, sustainable food and to encourage public authorities to place food at the center of local decision-making. Core Values Local food sovereignty : The collective aims to increase the share of food consumed locally by rebuilding regional supply chains and bringing consumers closer to producers. Accessibility and solidarity : A central priority is ensuring that healthy food is affordable for everyone, including households facing financial hardship. Sustainability : The organization promotes organic, seasonal, and environmentally respectful agriculture, with an emphasis on reducing dependence on imported and highly processed food. Fair remuneration : CA-WAPI consistently highlights the need for stable outlets and fair prices for producers, so that local farming remains viable. Collective action : Its model is based on cooperation between citizens, farmers, associations, and institutions, with shared governance and mutual support. Resilience : By diversifying production and strengthening short supply chains, the collective seeks to make the territory more resilient to climate and economic shocks. Unique Aspects Regional scale in Wallonia Picarde : The organization expanded from the former Ceinture Alimentaire du Tournaisis to cover the whole Wallonia Picarde territory, allowing it to connect producers and residents across a broader area. Part of the Crealim network : CA-WAPI is an active member of Crealim, the federation of food belts and food networks in Wallonia, which helps it share expertise and speak with a stronger collective voice. Creator and supporter of a separate cooperative : It initiated La Coop Alimentaire in 2022 and still supports it through awareness-raising and solidarity projects, while the cooperative now operates autonomously. Territorial festival model : Nourrir la WAPI is organized as a constellation of local events rather than a single centralized festival, giving partner towns and groups autonomy over their own programming. Strong local network : The organization maintains a broad directory of regional producers and food actors, reinforcing practical links across production, distribution, and community initiatives.
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