Tirana is the capital, the largest city, and the heart of Albania’s cultural, economic and governmental activity. Tirana 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. 

The city is taking its first steps in developing a sustainable food system and will launch a food policy at the end of the project. The pilot will work to give a certification to restaurants compliant with sustainable food indicators such as actions promoting short supply chains and tackling food waste. 

Through Food Trails, the Municipality aims to gather and engage with local stakeholders, including scattered existing food initiatives, to create a comprehensive food policy focusing on food waste, access to healthy and quality food for all, and the promotion of sustainable food systems. 

As part of its Living Lab activities, the city will:

– engage in a dialogue with local stakeholders to map and assess the local food system and food waste and ultimately build a strong network of local food actors, including producers, restaurants and stores; 
– develop awareness-raising campaigns to increase citizens’ knowledge on food, prevent and reduce food waste and promote healthy and sustainable food choices; 
– create a multifunctional food centre to gather consumers, local farmers and a network of restaurants, bars and food stores buying and using locally grown ingredients and products;
– establish a quality certification process to promote and reward sustainable food actions.