such as fragmented landholdings,13 insufficient irrigation infrastructure, limited mechanisation, and chronic underinvestment in rural services and public goods.14 These limitations do not operate in isolation; they have direct implications for the viability of sustainable gastronomy, which depends on consistent access to quality ingredients, reliable rural livelihoods, and the preservation of local food knowledge. Nonetheless, recent developments in Albanian policy frameworks reveal a growing recognition of the need to align agriculture with broader cultural and economic objectives. Notably, the National Strategy for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries 2021–202715 acknowledges evolving consumer expectations regarding food quality, traceability, and sustainability. While the strategy primarily addresses food safety, market access, and environmental resilience, it also introduces conceptual references to cultural values, local traditions, and gastronomic potential as components of rural revitalisation.16 More significantly, this direction is strengthened by the Draft National Strategy for the Development of Agrotourism,17 which expressly aims to create synergies between agriculture, gastronomy, tourism, and cultural heritage. The draft strategy underlines the importance of integrating local food systems into tourism offerings by leveraging traditional farming, culinary heritage, and rural landscapes. It calls for the diversification of rural economies through agrotourism models that promote cultural authenticity and sustainable consumption. This draft instrument reflects a deliberate shift towards an intersectoral governance approach, suggesting that agriculture should no longer be seen as an isolated sector but rather as a vector of territorial identity, cultural production, and rural competitiveness.18 13 See Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection, Albanian National Land Consolidation Strategy- Developed in the framework of FAO technical assistance project “Support to the Preparation of a National Land Consolidation Strategy and a Land Consolidation Pilot Project TCP/ALB/3301”, Tirana, January 2013. See also FAO, Albanian National Land Consolidation Strategy <https://landportal.org/library/resources/lexfaoc149566/albanian-national-land-consolidation-strategy> accessed 21 August 2025. 14 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development “Rural Development Programme 2021-2027 under Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)”, p. 14-16. <https://bujqesia.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ProgramiIPARD-III_2021-2027_English.pdf> accessed 21 August 2025. 15 Decision of Council of Ministers no. 460, dated 29.6.2022, OG 100/2022. 16 See also EBRD, Albania Country Strategy 2020–2025 (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 12 February 2020) <http//www.ebrd.com> accessed 21 August 2025. 17 Regjistri Elektronik për Njoftimet dhe Konsultimet Publike, ‘Strategjia Kombëtare e Zhvillimit të Agroturizmit në Shqipëri’ (Ministria e Bujqësisë dhe Zhvillimit Rural 31 January 2024) <https://konsultimipublik. gov.al/Konsultime/Detaje/696> accessed 21 August 2025. 18 The deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism and Minister of Agriculture publicly presented the draft strategy of the Albanian Government last year. See ‘Qeveria Shqiptare Strategji Për Zhvillimin e Agroturizmit, 472 NADA DOLLANI
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