City profile for Brussels
The gastronomic event “Bruxelles Champêtre”, in front of the Royal Palace
Allotment Garden Action Programme…
Brussels Environment has allocated since the 1990s 190 vegetable plots in parks available for households. Through a call for proposals, funds have been allocated for the launch of new community vegetable gardens (16 launched in 2 years). The association “Le Début des Haricots” is mandated to support these community gardens. It enables a self-production of produce that is healthy and cheaper without the need for fertilisers and transport and creates social ties, setting an example for park visitors. Currently, 170 people are on waiting lists demonstrating a great interest among inhabitants.
Nos Pilifs farm‌
Located in Neder-Over-Heembeek, Nos Pilifs farm is an education farm and organic retail platform that combines commercial activities and social integration providing jobs for 120 disabled people. The mix between business and integration at work is an interested example of social business. The farm recently launched a platform delivery scheme of organic fresh fruits and vegetable bags.
The GASAP Network
The GASAP network began in 2006 and has now 60 groups (more than 1200 families) purchasing from 14 vegetables and fruit producers.
Canteen eco-calculator…
The private catering company Sodexo is currently providing half of the meals taken in canteens in Brussels. In response to Brussels Environment’s will to improve environmental performances, they are fine-tuning an ecocalculator that indicates the meal’s carbon footprint. Criteria considered include the product’s origin… They successfully tested the reduction of the average meat portion size in the European headquarters Toyota in order to decrease carbon impact…
Sustainable food at schools…
Schools are in demand of sustainable food. Two axes are developed by Brussels Environment - Background work with canteens: 15 schools and 2 providers of school meals were integrated into the program “sustainable canteen”. More than 30 000 meals/day are concerned. - Raising awareness and changing behaviour of students and educational staff: In 2011-2012, about 6000 students were involved (cycle of three animations on "less food wastage"). In 2012-2013, more than 6000 new students will be involved in projects funded directly by Brussels Environment: 16 schools (5057 students) who develop their own project "sustainable food".
Food Challenge…
“The food challenge” is an initiative of Etterbeek (one of the 19 municipalities of the region), supported by Brussels Environment in the context of the call for sustainable food projects in 2011. The idea was to create dynamics around sustainable food by empowering families to become ambassadors of the topic. During 6 months, 12 households were involved every fortnight in activities such as cooking classes, taste workshops… Behaviours and view on food quickly evolved…
Media campaign
Brussels Environment has developed a media campaign for the general public with the message “eat local and seasonal� (2 years, 4 season/year, in 2011 & 2012). The campaign won 2 awards.
Rencontre des continents‌
This organisation aims at developing positive relations between different cultures. One of the main tools is food because it reveals a lot on how society works. Many themes are addressed: the connection between the economic and social environment, the sanitary crisis, individual and collective engagement‌
Taste Brussels (Goûter Bruxelles)…
“Goûter Bruxelles” is a yearly festival (carried by the Slow Food movement) engaging restaurants to experiment local sustainable menus for one week with animations, tasting, organic vegetable gardening... For the third edition, in September 2012, 71 restaurant took part , 5 well-known chefs acted as ambassadors, a variety of food walks were proposed, gardening and apiculture courses provided - showcasing Brussels as a welcoming green gastronomic city to enjoy and taste.
Brusselicious‌
In 2012, Brussels organises the year of gastronomy as a year-long food festival with events, demonstrations by great chefs, essential dining spots, products created for the occasion... . This initiative invites inhabitants and visitors to reconsider the way to eat well.
Rooftop garden experimentation‌
Vegetable growing in bags experimented on the Royal library rooftop: an educational and awareness raising project on a famous building in the centre of Brussels with views to stimulate systematic terrace gardening and more production-oriented developments‌
Aquaponics experimentation‌
Aquaponics is the marriage of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing vegetables without soil). In June 2012, the "Village partner" in partnership with Group One developed a pilot scale aquaponics unit. Its purpose is to act as a catalyst project and test a series of economic parameters.
Terres en vue‌
Terre-en-vue is an NGO and cooperative that facilitate access to land. They support agroecological projects either through helping new farmers to start up or by assuring the maintenance of existing farms. Citizens can buy shares in the cooperative which in turn buys agricultural land thereby putting an end to speculation.