An example of cooperation that has allowed two realities, the Albanian one and the Italian one, to give life to an active interaction with one objective: the development, valorization and circular economy of the territories.
The mission in Albania, in Vlora, has just ended, which saw the Puglia Region, the Province of Lecce, the Municipality of Himara and Biznes Albania as protagonists, as part of a project (started in 2019) called "Marginal Resilience" and financed by a government body, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
This project phase, conceived and implemented by the European Policies Service of the Province of Lecce, directed by Carmelo Calamia, in collaboration with the Heritage Service, has provided for an exchange of good practices in the agricultural and dairy sectors.
Four days of full immersion training, organized with the collaboration of Ergys Gezka, national coordinator of Biznes Albania, which gave the opportunity to about 20 students to learn and study in depth the topics of livestock crops, the milk supply chain and the olive sector from various aspects. In addition to classroom training focused on the study of the circular economy model for the enhancement of territorial vocations, inspections were carried out directly in local agricultural companies. In particular, an olive grove of about one and a half hectares planted with Leccino varieties, an oil mill and a traditional cellar typical for the production of native wines, created inside a tunnel, with an adjoining agritourism were visited.
Various topics were addressed during the four days: from multifunctionality and study of the various forms of agricultural business, the difference between a professional agricultural entrepreneur and a farmer (curated by Renzo Paladini of the Heritage Service of the Province of Lecce), to the various forms of investments in the dairy sector, the creation of a business and the generational transition (Alessandro Papa Pagliardini of the European Policies Service), up to the more technical and practical aspect illustrated by Emanuela Longo, provincial director of CIA Salento, who reported her experience in the dairy sector, suggesting methods and sanitary hygiene techniques to adopt in her farms and during the transformation of the products.
The in-depth study on oil was relevant, a topic that involved and interested those present, thanks to a tasting of local Albanian oils and which allowed them to understand and identify the organoleptic characteristics of the various products. Important aspects such as communication, training and information needed to highlight the quality of agricultural products and to promote and enhance the territories were also explored.
Also present were Diana Doci from the Province's European Policy Service and CIA Salento collaborator Klara Hitaj, both native Albanian speakers, who were essential for communicating and translating the needs and numerous questions posed by the audience to the various teachers.
The next stage of the project will be to host a delegation of young Albanian entrepreneurs in Lecce in the coming weeks, with a program full of classroom activities and field visits.
