Albania remains the most agricultural country in the Western Balkans, but at the same time, the least prepared for the transition to smart agriculture.

According to the recently published report “Skilling up the Western Balkans Agri-Food Sector” by the European Training Foundation (ETF), agriculture accounts for 16.3% of our country’s GDP, the highest in the region and Europe, while around 35% of the population is employed in this sector.

However, the economic impact of agriculture is not translating into technological growth or innovation.

The report highlights that Albania and Bosnia are the countries where agri-tech, technologies applied to agriculture, are least developed. While in Serbia, North Macedonia, or Montenegro, companies using artificial intelligence, drones, and sensors for land management are emerging, in Albania, these examples remain sporadic and often linked to pilot projects or individual initiatives.

One of the main obstacles, according to the ETF, is the mismatch between vocational education and market needs. Albanian agricultural schools have programs that are still focused on traditional methods, with little connection to technology, food processing, or export markets. Teachers have limited opportunities for professional updating, while cooperation with business is very rare.

The ETF stresses the need for integrated training, combining agricultural knowledge with digital skills, biotechnology, business management, and environmental sustainability. “The future workforce in the agri-food sector needs to be equipped with new competences, from data analysis and the use of smart devices to knowledge of EU organic standards,” the document states.

In the organic and functional foods sub-sector, Albania is seen as having high potential but weak foundations. Only 0.1 percent of agricultural land is certified organic, well below the EU average of 10 percent. However, the growing interest in organic products, medicinal plants, and traditional foods offers a chance for sustainable development and increased exports, if accompanied by standards, certification, and management skills.

The ETF recommends that Albania undertake three key measures: Create an ecosystem of cooperation between education, businesses and public institutions for the development of technological skills in agriculture; Modernize vocational and university education curricula, including new modules on smart agriculture, digitalization, and the circular economy; Promote the involvement of farmers and agribusinesses in training and retraining, through work placements and financially supported schemes.



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