About us
Two decades’ experience researching and promoting alternative farming and food systems, including technical, environmental, business and policy aspects.
Emphasis on an applied, holistic, systems understanding and participatory engagement of producers in research and innovation to enable a fuctional and integrated Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS).
In-depth understanding of technical, business, regulatory and policy issues of (organic) farming based on longstanding experience in research, consultancy and teaching.
Additional focus on socio-economic aspects of various stakeholders, including producers, consumers, business partners, control bodies and regulators. Work on projects on conversion, financial performance, farm management, policy support, regulations and certification.
Work undertaken for several donors in Albania and other Western Balkan countries.
Endrit Kullaj
- Full Professor, Head of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana.
- Research and education system experience as professor teaching horticulture technologies, alternative agricultural systems (organic, regenerative, etc.) and good agricultural practices
- Experience in policy-oriented analysis focusing on agriculture and rural development, with contribution to the preparation of several Strategic Documents, including the Action Plan for Organic Agriculture in Albania as part of Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development 2007 – 2013; intervention strategies for GoA and donor programs and schemes; experience with drafting regional and local development plans; identification/ review of public and private investment to create rural economic development areas;
- Extensive experience with international and EU structural funds (particularly INTERREG, IPA CBC projects), in the area of agriculture and rural development, including agri-environment, agrobiodiversity, promotion of typical products, rural tourism, etc.
- Professional experience working in agri-food and rural development domains, both within international development projects, SME development, private companies and academia; value chain promotion, especially medicinal plants and fruits.
- Direct experience in export business management working as partner and managing director of an exporting company, active in organic production, marketing and export with a turnover of 0.5 Mln EUR (i.e. contracting of the largest acreage of certified organic production in Albania, building a sustainable network of small farmer groups and business coaching)
- Experience in setting up and supporting producer groups or networks and marketing cooperatives; several successful cases with wild collection or cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants, fruits and nuts, organic products; strategies for promotion of typical products, agri-tourism activities, innovation in agriculture, etc.
- Professional experience in promoting agricultural extension and marketing of agricultural and horticultural products, in particular fruits, nuts and medicinal and aromatic plants.
- Experience with environmental impacts assessment of agriculture and related activities; design of methodologies for valuation of agriculture, pasture and forest land affected by public or private investments including calculation of compensation and replacement values for annual and perennial crops.
- Coordination of agriculture projects and extensive experience within donor funded projects
- Experience in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia working directly with horticultural products and coaching value chain stakeholders, both directly and through business development services (BDS), as well as capacitating government institutions (including local authorities and regional ones) on agricultural policies and policy-oriented analyses.
- Extensive knowledge and experience with EU organic standards, certification procedure working for the largest German certification bodies.
- Experienced in working in international environment and for international organizations in Albania and abroad.
- Extensive experience in writing reports, preparation of visual presentation materials, briefing papers and training.
Qualifications
2007
PhD in International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Policies
University of Bologna
2006
Doctor of Agricultural Sciences in Horticulture and Plant Protection
Agricultural University of Tirana
2005
Diploma in Sustainable Development of Agricultural, Environmental and Rural Systems
University of Bologna and UniAdrion
2005
Agrarian Economist, Economy and Rural Development Policies
Agricultural University of Tirana
2003
Master of Sciences in Horticulture and Plant Protection
Agricultural University of Tirana
2001
Intl. Permaculture Design Certificate
Permaculture Institute (Australia), 2001
2000
Agrarian Engineer, Agronomy
Agricultural University of Tirana, 2000
Research stages at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Laboratory of Ecophysiology, INRAE (France)
Department of Fruit Trees at the University of Bologna (Italy), Ohio State University (USA), CHIEAM Bari, University of Aberystwyth (GB)
Majlinda Çakalli
- Senior lecturer, Faculty of Economy and Agribusiness, Agricultural University of Tirana with 20 years of experience in academic, research and policy formulation and implementation activities, using survey data, structured interviews and other methodological tools.
- Research experience in analysing the competitiveness of agricultural activities, especially fruit and vegetables, subsidy policy
- Experience in analysing public spending performance of various sectors.
- Experience in policy-oriented analysis focusing on agriculture and rural development; experience with drafting regional and local development plans.
- Experience with international and EU structural funds (particularly INTERREG, IPA CBC projects), in the area of agriculture and rural development.
- Design of non-market valuation of agriculture, pasture and forest lands affected by public or private Investments.
- Appraising the externalities of agriculture and related activities
- Experienced in working in international environment and for international organizations in Albania and abroad.
- Extensive experience in writing reports, preparation of visual presentation materials, briefing papers and training.
Qualifications
2011
Doctor of Sciences in Agrarian Economics
Agricultural University of Tirana
2006
Master of Science in Economics and Agrarian Policies
Agricultural University of Tirana
2001
Agrarian Economist in Economics and Agrarian Policies
Agricultural University of Tirana