In an effort to revolutionise the food scene in a more sustainable manner, the Wallonia Government is intensifying its endeavors to transform the way people eat, one delectable bite at a time. Through the Food Wallonia action plan, a myriad of innovative projects have been approved to promote healthier and eco-friendly eating, all while supporting the local food revolution.
What’s the Buzz about Food Wallonia?
Food Wallonia, a compact focused on intertwining employment prospects with environmental considerations in the realm of gastronomy, was embraced by Wallonia on 27th October 2022. The objective? To expedite the shift towards a more sustainable agri-food system that benefits all. The Food Wallonia scheme consists of 19 actions centred around providing financial assistance, raising awareness, and implementing regulations.
The Big 5 Priority Plans
The recent wave of approved projects in December 2023 is centered around advancing the top 5 action points outlined by Food Wallonia. These include enhancing the food supply for food aid organizations, amplifying knowledge about food contaminants for all individuals involved in the food chain, and organizing support, training, and testing for food-related activities.
Breathing Life into Concrete Projects
Amidst the array of projects in the pipeline, there is the launch of a communication campaign aimed at equipping consumers with practical tips on preventing food contamination, such as plastic migration, for instance. Additionally, there is backing for 19 local food relocation projects aimed at sustaining the transition towards a more eco-conscious food system. Furthermore, initiatives such as supporting local food policy councils and promoting agricultural food donations are in the mix, diversifying the food supply for aid organizations with fresh, local produce.
One particularly enthralling project in the works is ‘Locadis’, spearheaded by Jorami and Junitrans, where a storage, packaging, and transformation hub is being developed in Jumet. This hub will be dedicated to providing canteens and institutions with access to locally sourced produce.
Serving Up Sustainability in Cafeterias
A standout project in the “Food Wallonia” plan involves extending the “Local Produce on the Plate” initiative until the end of 2024. This funding aims to assist collective cafeterias that have pledged to the Sustainable Cafeterias Green Deal in increasing the proportion of local products in their meals, without escalating costs for consumers. This support covers 50% of local produce from short supply chains and 70% for organic local products, capped at 0.50 € per meal.
The Sustainable Cafeterias Green Deal 2.0 endeavors to have all participating cafeterias certified within 18 months of their commitment and to source at least 10 new local products.
Thus far, 326 cafeterias have enrolled in the system. From the producer perspective, over 100 of them have reaped the benefits from the pilot project carried out last year.
This support plays a pivotal role in rebalancing the equation between affordable prices for all and fair compensation for producers. An evaluation of the cafeterias’ transition in the long run will help solidify the actions that are proving to be successful.
With these initiatives taking flight, the culinary landscape in Wallonia is on the verge of becoming infinitely more compelling, not to mention sustainable. It’s all about taking a leap into a future where food isn’t just nourishing for the soul, but for the planet too.
