Albania has launched the Agrifood Systems Dialogue Platform to guide policy reform and investment in the country’s agrifood sector through evidence-based dialogue and multistakeholder collaboration. Developed with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the platform aims to support more coordinated, transparent, and strategic decision-making as Albania advances its agrifood system transformation and European Union integration process.
The platform unites government institutions, development partners, and stakeholders to jointly assess challenges, identify priorities, and align investments across the agrifood system, fostering a more resilient, productive, and future-ready sector. Central to this dialogue is FAO’s agrifood system diagnostic, developed under the Analytical Support Mechanism for Agrifood System Country Programming and Evidence (SCOPE). The diagnostic provides a systemwide assessment, examining interactions between agriculture, nutrition, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and economic growth.
The analysis highlights opportunities and structural constraints in the sector. Growth in high-value crops such as fruits, vegetables, and olives demonstrates potential for value addition, employment, and exports. However, low labor productivity from land fragmentation, declining livestock numbers, and mounting environmental and climate pressures continue to affect overall sector performance.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arjan Jaupllari, emphasized that Albania’s European Union accession process requires a shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated, evidence-driven reform. The platform supports efforts to modernize the sector, enhance competitiveness, and ensure sustainability in line with European standards. FAO Representative in Albania, Raimund Jehle, highlighted that the initiative is designed as an ongoing dialogue, providing a credible evidence base for aligning investments and strengthening policy coherence while national institutions retain leadership and ownership.
The initiative was introduced through a national workshop organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, bringing together representatives from line ministries and public institutions responsible for agrifood, environment, and finance policies. Participants validated the diagnostic findings and identified priority areas for development interventions, including shifting toward capital-intensive and value-added production, strengthening livestock, raising food quality and safety standards, building climate resilience, and linking agrifood systems to jobs, nutrition, and sustainable rural livelihoods.
FAO’s Assistant Representative in Albania, Lorena Pullumbi, noted the importance of shared understanding and coordination, stressing that evidence only becomes impactful when collectively owned. The platform is expected to inform strategic planning and programming by the Government of Albania, FAO, the wider United Nations system, and development partners, translating analysis into targeted actions that promote competitiveness, resilience, and inclusive growth.
