Tirana is the capital and the heart of Albania’s cultural, economic and governmental activity. The city is the 7th largest city in the Balkan Peninsula, with a population of 800,000. Located in the western part of the country, it is surrounded by hills and the Dajti Mountain on the east and by a valley on the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
Since the 90s, Tirana has been undergoing a profound transformation, viewing change as an opportunity to embrace sustainability.
As part of Food Trails, the city has focused on accelerating the shift toward healthier, more resilient, and sustainable food systems. Additionally, Tirana developed its first municipal-level food strategy — the first in Albania — a key legacy of the Food Trails project.
Pilot 1 – Short supply chain. Creating a local market to connect farmers with citizens
The municipality recently opened the Agro Park in the peri-urban area of Farka, providing a platform for
local private businesses and wholesale companies to sell organic products, while shortening the distances between producers and consumers. Additionallly, the Agro Park promotes sustainable diets through educational events and distributing informative materials on healthy eating, in collaboration with a nutritionist. The local food sourcing strategy of Tirana, enhanced nutrition and sustainability efforts both in kindergarten canteens and in the city’s social centers, serving individuals in need, in collaboration with the local Food Bank.
Pilot 2 – Preventing food waste. Actions for surplus food recovery
and redistribution, plus awareness campaign
A preliminary survey developed with the Agricultural University of Tirana revealed a low awareness of the impact of food waste. Several barriers hinder surplus food donation, including legal constraints and logistical challenges. In response, the city launched ‘zero waste campaigns’, ‘Healthy Food Days’ and an ‘E booklet’ to be distributed at school events. Efforts also include reducing food waste by setting up a system to distribute surplus food to those in need.
Living Labs Numbers
4
Living Lab co-creation
workshops hosted,
bringing together 50
participants
12
Food system stakeholders strengthened collaboration with the municipality by
signing a Memorandum of Understanding,
supporting the adoption of local food policies
1
E-booklet promoting
healthy food consumption
Tirana Food Policy is available in the report Official Municipal Acts for Urban Food Policy Approval.
The description of the city’s living labs is available in all the project languages in the Food Trails Final Publication. Go to the resource!
Food Trails Stories: The video on Tirana Living Lab
Food and the Cities: Food Trails podcast episode featuring Tirana Living Lab
