The Agricultural University of Tirana was part of the important event “Match-Maker Albania 2026,” held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, a platform that brought together key actors of the economy, investments, innovation, and development in the country.
This activity, organized by the Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA), aimed to create concrete bridges of cooperation between public institutions, universities, local and international companies, as well as innovative startups, transforming ideas into implementable projects and real investments.
The Agricultural University of Tirana was represented in the “Smart Agriculture Zone,” one of the most important thematic areas of the event, dedicated to the modernization of the agricultural sector and the promotion of innovative solutions.
Associate Professor and Vice Rector Romina Koto presented the PHITO platform, a digital solution aimed at connecting data with actors across the agricultural value chain through a simple and accessible system. The platform provides data-driven agricultural advisory services on soil, water, and crops, tailored especially to the needs of farmers and small agricultural businesses.
PHITO also aims to strengthen collaboration between farmers, consumers, and service providers, contributing to the development of local knowledge and innovation systems in agriculture. One of the platform’s distinguishing features is the simplification of the use of digital technologies and the utilization of open data to support decision-making in the agricultural sector.
On the other hand, Professor Alketa Grepcka presented UBT’s innovative study program “IT in Agriculture and Environment,” which focuses on integrating technology into agriculture and environmental fields, as well as developing advanced competencies in automation, precision agriculture, and intelligent systems. She also highlighted the current challenges facing the sector, pointing out gaps in technical and digital skills as one of the main barriers to the modernization of agriculture in Albania.
The “Smart Agriculture Zone” brought together national and international institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Albania and the Food and Agriculture Organization, foreign investors, as well as innovative startups that presented solutions for intelligent soil monitoring, pest prediction, and the optimization of agricultural processes, highlighting the role of technology in transforming the sector.
Through innovative projects and international collaborations, the Agricultural University of Tirana continues to contribute to the creation of a sustainable development ecosystem and to enhancing the competitiveness of the Albanian agricultural sector.
