Adapting the EU Farm to Fork Strategy to Albania: opportunities and challenges for sustainable agricultural transformation

The EU’s ‘From Farm to Fork’ Strategy, a central pillar of the European Green Deal, seeks to reshape the EU food system into one that is fair, healthy and environmentally sustainable. Spanning the entire food chain, it incorporates environmental, social and economic objectives to promote sustainability as a competitive advantage. This article explores the multifaceted challenges in implementing the Strategy, including the economic burdens, social equity, political feasibility and environmental constraints, with a particular focus on Albania. By analysing Albania’s ‘Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries Strategy 2021-2027’, the study outlines the pathways for harmonising national agricultural policy with the EU’s sustainability agenda. Emphasis is placed on the potential benefits for small-scale producers, who stand to gain from improved access to sustainable practices, market opportunities and fair value chains. The findings underline the importance of strategic alignment, institutional capacity building and stakeholder involvement in successfully adapting the Strategy to Albania’s agricultural context.