NAME: FOODHUB
INITIATOR: Bledar Meta
LOCATION: Albania
SUMMARY: We want to create a food hub in which farmers will receive various services such as standardization and control of their products. This will increase food security for consumers, packaging and labelling of their products with the name and address of thus, ensuring the origin of the products, the processing and packaging. It helps to increase the added value of farmers’ products and thus supplies consumers throughout the year with safe local products, and information on their origin and method of production. In Albania, small farmers do not have the opportunity to invest in such equipment so we will offer the above services for an affordable fee for their budget, and in this way they can enter the market with their standardized products, controlled and well-packaged, which they can sell in the market at a better price and be more competitive, thus they begin to strengthen both financially and in terms of quality and food safety. Farmers come to the food hub, receive the above services and can take and sell their products in the market they want. We will also give them the opportunity to sell their products in different markets and do their marketing; we will keep a percentage on the selling price of these products, making this in a very transparent way with both farmers and consumers.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN INNOVATIVE ASPECTS?
It allows small farmers to control, standardize, package and process their products at a lower cost, increase the added value of their products, be more competitive in the market, more sustainable
and produce better quality products. This guarantees controlled and safe products, it ensures the origin and production, offers more local products, and certainly a fairer price by referring to quality and food safety.
WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE THE POSITION OF THE FARMER IN THE VALUE CHAIN?
It gives these farmers the opportunity to earn more by selling their products. It adds value to their products, offers them more with the customer, increases their credibility to consumers, makes them more sustainable and market-oriented, and educates and informs consumers about the value of products.
WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL TO CONNECT FARMERS AND CONSUMERS?
The potential is high and sustainable, it provides consumers with complete information about their products and their origin, offers a fair price for both parties, increases food security, eliminates
intermediaries and value chain abusers, gives more power to farmers and at the same time more voice to consumers to give feedback directly to farmers.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN OBSTACLES?
The financial aspect, the technical aspect to select the right machines and information on their costs, and the aspect of knowledge of food technology and food experts.