Crab

Name

Crab

Legal name

Crabe asbl

Website

https://crabe.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Agricultural Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Crop, Soil & Agronomy Technician Training (EDAOAOAF)

Keywords

• Organic market gardening training
• Ecological gardening education
• Professional insertion training
• Agricultural vocational training
• Social-Professional insertion

Headquarters

HQ city

Jodoigne

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies and Public Funding: Core funding from Walloon Region as agréé Centre d'Insertion Socio-Professionnelle (CISP) with 2025-2030 accreditation, and Centre de Formation Professionnelle Agricole (FPA) co-funded by Region wallonne and Le Forem.
2. Product Sales: Weekly market sales of organic fruits and vegetables produced at the Château des Cailloux garden, cultivated by trainees. Also sells at special event markets.
3. Workshop Fees: Adult workshops on vegetable transformation and preservation priced at 90€ per day including materials. Children's activities and seasonal workshops offered at various price points.
4. Donations: Active donation campaign for equipment funding for training facilities, with public appeals for support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Crabe asbl is a Belgian non-profit social and professional training center that delivers professional insertion training (CISP) and professional agricultural training (FPA) focused on green trades. It offers qualifying training programs in organic market gardening and ecological parks and gardens maintenance, supported by a hands-on educational garden (Potager du Château des Cailloux) and supplemented by a weekly organic produce market, eco-gardening services, and paid workshops for adults and children.

Product overview

Crabe asbl operates as a social and professional training center offering a unified portfolio of integrated services focused on social insertion, green profession training, and organic agriculture. The core offerings include: (1) Social-Professional Insertion training programs under CISP (Cultive ton projet, Reconnecte-toi, Eco-jardinage, Maraîchage bio) designed for job seekers and adults seeking to re-enter the workforce; (2) Professional Agricultural Training (Formation Professionnelle Agricole) for aspiring organic market gardeners seeking to establish their own farms; (3) Practical workshops for adults and children under the 'Graines de Maraîcher' brand covering vegetable garden setup and food preservation; (4) Commercial products and services including a weekly BIO market and eco-gardening service. The portfolio is unified around two strategic axes: social (insertion and professional integration) and environmental (ecological practices and organic agriculture), with all offerings supporting each other through the organization's ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Graines de Maraîcher: Children's activities and workshops at the vegetable garden, including seasonal stages and family animations focused on ecology and biodiversity.

Products and services

• Ton projet en action - Reconnecte-toi Social reinsertion training module for adults wishing to get back into action progressively, offering remobilization workshops and skills development for job seekers.
• Ton projet en action - Cultive ton projet Two days per week training at Incourt enabling participants to reconnect with action according to their own needs and pace, including vegetable garden cultivation, vegetable processing workshops, and job search support.
• Ouvrier en Parcs et Jardins écologiques (Eco-jardinage) Full-time free training in ecological parks and gardens maintenance, teaching the fundamentals of the profession through practical work on construction sites, including gentle pruning, mowing, natural reserve maintenance, invasive plant management, and green waste recycling.
• Ouvrier en maraichage biologique Full-time free training in organic market gardening, teaching practical skills at the Potager du Château des Cailloux, with theoretical knowledge and practical competencies for the sector.
• Installation en maraichage biologique (Formation Professionnelle Agricole) Professional agricultural training for future organic market gardening entrepreneurs, delivered over 12+ months with theoretical courses, long-duration internships, farm visits, and comprehensive business management modules. Recognized by the Walloon Region and provides certificates necessary for agricultural public aid (AII). Available in Jodoigne and Liège.
• Perfectionnement pour les professionnels Short professional development courses (1-3 days) for already established organic producers, covering topics such as soil management, irrigation, and transformation techniques.
• Formations pour enseignant.e.s et formateur.rice.s Training programs for teachers and trainers in organic agriculture, enabling them to integrate ecological gardening concepts into their educational activities.
• Marché hebdomadaire de fruits et légumes bio Weekly Friday market (15h-18h, May to October) selling certified BIO fruits and vegetables produced at the Potager du Château des Cailloux, with local artisan producers and special event markets. Inaugural market on Friday 8 May 2026 for 2026 season.
• Création, entretien et amélioration des parcs et jardins Eco-gardening service creating, maintaining and improving parks and gardens in harmony with nature, supporting biodiversity. Training approximately 10 workers per year in park and garden maintenance.
• Graines de Maraîcher - Ateliers adultes Adult workshops including 'Mon potager écologique en une saison' (14 half-day cycle accompanying citizens to set up their own biological vegetable garden) and 'Transformation et conservation de mes fruits et légumes bio' (day-long workshop teaching processing and preservation techniques, priced at 90€/day including materials).
• Graines de Maraîcher - Activités enfants Children's activities including seasonal week-long stages (Le potager se réveille, Croque ton potager, Mon potager en hiver) and family animations (La vie des arbres) introducing children to gardening, biodiversity, and sustainable food through hands-on activities. Limited to 15 participants per activity.
• Ateliers informatiques Free computer workshops for all publics provided in collaboration with the Plan de Cohésion Sociale de la Ville de Jodoigne, including individual coaching sessions (one hour, bi-weekly) covering technology basics, internet, word processing, banking apps, social networks, CV writing, and administrative procedures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 3,000 trainees supported since 1976
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RwDR (Réseau Wallon du Développement Rural)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2022Collaborated on Route de l'Innovation in market gardening, a multi-stakeholder initiative promoting innovation diffusion in agricultural systems. Co-organized workshops and produced recommendations for Minister of Agriculture on sustainable market gardening development.
• FUGEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Route de l'Innovation maraîchage project, contributing to innovation recommendations for walloon agricultural sector.
• BiowalloniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Route de l'Innovation maraîchage initiative. Regular partner for La Semaine Bio events and agricultural development projects.
• Fermes Universitaires de l'UCLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Route de l'Innovation project, providing research expertise and validation for market gardening innovation recommendations.
• GMDB (Groupement Maraîcher Diversifié Bio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Route de l'Innovation project representing diversified organic market gardening producers.
• MIRE BW (Maison de l'Insertion et de la REmédiation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for job coaching workshops to organize professional projects. MIRE BW provides free employment services and coaching, directing participants to Crabe training opportunities.
• FormalimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance with Forem skills center to develop micro-transformation food operator training in Liège. Co-financed by European Union. Formalim provides expertise in production, logistics, quality and refrigeration in food industry.
• Terra Alter BelgiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial economy project ('Légumerie Solidaire') creating vegetable processing and pre-transformation activity for Walloon institutions. Deployed in Liège from 2024 as missing link in sustainable food chain.
• Groupe TerreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Terra Alter Légumerie Solidaire pilot project launched in 2022.
• La Cuisine des ChampsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Terra Alter Légumerie Solidaire pilot project development.
• AgricovertminorOthersSocial economy project mentioned as one of several initiatives (with Les Jardins de l'Espinette) born from common will to build concrete and sustainable alternatives.
• Les Jardins de l'EspinetteminorOthersSocial economy project creating alternatives in sustainable agriculture sector.
• Ville de JodoignecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Social Cohesion Plan activities including free IT workshops for citizens. Supported weekly bio market in 2026 season. Host municipality for Crabe headquarters.
• Apaq-WcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizer of La Semaine Bio annual event where Crabe participates with special markets and activities. Regional promotion of organic agriculture.
• GAL CulturalitéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for film screening 'Intensif' and public debate during La Semaine Bio 2024.
• Nature & ProgrèsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of film screening and debate on sustainable agriculture during La Semaine Bio 2024.
• La Ferme du PeuplierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic farmer featured in 'Intensif' documentary, participated in post-screening debate. Represents successful organic market gardening case study.
• La Ferme à l'Arbre De LiègeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for information sessions on agricultural training in Liège region.
• Hub Circuit Court LiégeoiscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining location for agricultural professional training in Liège, providing facilities for expanded FPA program delivery.
• CanopeaminorOthersAwarding body for Prix des associations 2026 recognizing Crabe's environmental and social actions.
• Corder (Phytolicence)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides phytolicence evaluation services (P1, P2, P3, NP) at Crabe facilities for agricultural professionals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Bec Hellouin Farm: French permaculture and organic micro-farm known for training programs in ecological market gardening. Comparable to Crabe because of overlapping curriculum in bio-intensive market gardening and adult training formats, though focused on France.
• Fermes d'Avenir: French association promoting agroecological and small-scale farming initiatives with training and demonstration farms. Comparable to Crabe because of similar training, advocacy, and farm-based learning models, though it operates primarily in France.

Direct peers

• Réseau des CISP: Federation of Centres d'Insertion Socio-Professionnelle across Wallonia and Brussels. Closely comparable to Crabe because member organizations share the same CISP accreditation framework, public funding mechanics, and dual mission of social insertion with vocational training.
• Biowallonie: Walloon public body for organic agriculture advisory, research, and training. Directly comparable to Crabe because both serve Walloon organic producers with technical training, farm-visit programs, and partnership-based delivery models.
• Nature & Progrès: Federation of organic agriculture and small-scale farmers active in Belgium and France. Comparable to Crabe because both advocate participatory organic farming, organize public events and training sessions, and partner with Crabe on documentary screenings and debates.
• Centre de Michamps: Belgian agricultural research and demonstration center focused on organic and sustainable farming. Comparable to Crabe because both operate physical training farms, host field-based courses, and partner with Walloon agricultural stakeholders.

Broad incumbents

• IFOAM Organics International: Global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement. Comparable to Crabe at a thematic level because both promote organic farming education and standards, though IFOAM operates as a global policy and standards body rather than a regional training provider.
• IFAPME: Walloon public network of training centers for entrepreneurs and trades. Comparable to Crabe because it delivers state-recognized agricultural and small-business training across Wallonia, but at much broader scale and without a dedicated organic-insertion focus.
• Inagro: Flemish agricultural research and advisory organization with applied training programs for farmers. Comparable to Crabe because both provide practice-based agricultural education, though Inagro serves a broader crop/livestock portfolio at significantly larger scale.

Others

• FUGEA: Walloon federation representing small and peasant farmers. Comparable to Crabe because both participate in the Route de l'Innovation maraîchage project and defend policy interests of small-scale organic market gardeners in Wallonia.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/asblcrabe
• Instagraminstagram.com/crabe.asbl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crabe-asbl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crab