Imagine being handed live chickens for free—ready to be raised in your own backyard. It may sound unusual, but it's a real initiative that has taken root in several cities across France and Belgium. The idea? Tackling malnutrition and food poverty in a creative, hands-on way.
Starting back in 2015, the city of Colmar in the Alsace region launched a project that reached hundreds of local families: giving away chickens to people facing financial hardship, so they could raise them and gain access to fresh, local protein.

The initiative was a hit, eventually expanding to over 200 families across four municipalities. Each family received two chickens—often breeds like Poulet Rouge or the local Alsatian chicken. Participants were expected to care for the animals, ensure their welfare, and build a chicken coop themselves. In this way, the program wasn’t just about nutrition—it became a tool for community engagement and personal responsibility.

Although local in scale, the project has shed light on a broader issue: the struggle many people face in accessing healthy, nutritious food. Despite technological progress, healthy food is still often viewed as a luxury, out of reach for those in economic difficulty. Providing chickens didn’t just improve diets—it also helped strengthen social ties and encouraged community cohesion.

This is proof that access to healthy food isn’t only an economic matter—it’s a question of social equity. Local food policies like the one in Colmar are concrete steps toward greater food justice, recognizing healthy eating as a fundamental right.

Beyond providing chickens, the initiative also indirectly addresses the issue of food waste—a major challenge for global sustainability. Food waste is one of the leading sources of methane emissions, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than CO₂. Globally, about one-third of all food produced is wasted—that’s 1.3 billion tons every year. Smarter food resource management is key to cutting global emissions and improving human well-being.

Projects like the one in Colmar not only ensure access to nutritious food, but also reduce waste and promote better natural resource management.

At Regg3, access to healthy, sustainable food isn’t just a matter of social justice—it’s a strategic lever for creating value. With our framework, we measure the impact of nutrition at the local level, identify real needs, and highlight those who promote effective solutions to tackle inequality and food waste.

Using reliable data and scientific analysis, we help companies and public institutions design policies that improve quality of life while also strengthening ESG performance and market competitiveness.

Regg3 is the partner for those who want to turn social commitment into real, measurable value—helping build food systems that are more equitable, resilient, and sustainable for all communities.

Book a free call with our experts now and discover how to integrate territorial data into your sustainable food policies: https://bit.ly/Regg3Call