International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management United Kingdom Vol. V, Issue 5, May 2017 Licensed under Creative Common Page 487 http://ijecm.co.uk/ ISSN 2348 0386 AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE DETERMINANTS OF FOOD WASTE GENERATION IN URBAN AREA AT HOUSEHOLD LEVEL IN ALBANIA Arben Kambo PhD, Agriculture University of Tirana/ Faculty of Economy and Agribusiness, Department of Economy and Rural Development Policies, Tirane, Albania akambo@ubt.edu.al Remzi Keco Prof. asc, Agriculture University of Tirana/ Faculty of Economy and Agribusiness, Department of farm management, Tirane, Albania rkeco@ubt.edu.al Ilir Tomori PhD, Agriculture University of Tirana/ Faculty of Economy and Agribusiness, Department of farm management, Tirane, Albania itomorri@ubt.edu.al Abstract Economically avoidable food losses have a direct and negative impact on the incomes of both farmers and consumers. Given that many smallholders live on the margins of food insecurity, a reduction in food losses would have an immediate and significant impact on their livelihoods. For poor consumers, food insecure or at-risk households, the priority is clearly to have access to food products that are nutritious, safe and affordable. Improving the efficiency of the food supply chain could help to bring down the cost of the food to the consumer and thus increase access. The present study deals with approaches for preventing food waste based on a thorough analysis of the scale, reasons and pattern of food wastage in urban area in Albania. The study is the first empirical piece of research focused on Albanian households’ food waste behavior. The research scope includes not only what households discard in terms of amounts and waste