In collaboration with Agriculture University of Tirana (UBT) and FAO, “Vet through innovation” – Pema project promoted a two-day mission on fruit growing and digital orchard management in Albania. The mission was led by Prof. Luca Corelli from University of Bologna – Department of Agrifood Science and Technology (DISTAL), a world-renowned expert in ecophysiology of fruit trees, instrument/sensor design and development, precision management of fruit crops.
On the part of UBT the mission was hosted by Prof. Endrit Kullaj, Head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Prof. Zef Gjeta.
The mission was the first one to take place within the recent Agreement signed by UBT and DISTAL on teacher and student mobility and joint research activities.
The Fruit Sector in Albania presents many challenges and opportunities even to state of the art operations. While there are farmers who have finally recognised the necessity to consolidate production into larger fields, the majority of production remains anchored to a fragmented ownership landscape that hinders investment in infrastructure and innovation. Farm labour is increasingly surfacing as a dramatic problem for a sector not accustomed to face labor shortages. Mechanisation solutions could provide a partial response to the problem, on condition they are accompanied by sustainable investment support and strategies for labour skill improvement.
The mission allowed the DISTAL and UBT team to visit two consolidated fruits producers in the region of Korca whose orchards already host a number of advanced sensor solutions for the management of apple and cherry.
In one farm, prof. Corelli held an advisory session on how to complete the strategy for decision support system with an in-depth physiological assessment of the plant, irrigation techniques and shading strategies for apples.
Prof. Corelli brought the decades-long experience of his team at the University of Bologna, at whose Experiment Station several smart orchard configurations are being assessed, based on digital technology and robot mechanisation. Information on the project “smart specialised sustainable orchard” can be found here.
In the second farm, a variety of cherry fruit cultivars could be appreciated.
The field visits were anticipated by a lecture held by Prof. Corelli at UBT campus which saw a qualified attendance on the part of UBT professors, students and experts.
The mission confirmed the high potential of dialogue between the Universities of Tirana and Bologna – DISTAL in terms of applied research and tech transfer projects devoted to upgrading the Albanian Fruit Sector, and also confirmed that leading farms and farmers in Albania have a real potential role of tech demonstrators and digital champions.
Below a gallery of pictures from the mission
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