European External Action Service

06/12/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/12/2025 06:08

Albaponik, revolutionising sustainable farming in Albania with EU support

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Albaponik, revolutionising sustainable farming in Albania with EU support

12.06.2025 Press and information team of the Delegation to Albania
© EU in Albania

A sea of green plants spans over 3,000 square metres of optimised cultivation space. Pesticide-free lettuces, herbs, and vegetables are grown in the hills of Baldushk near Tirana, where Albaponik farm is revolutionising the way fresh food is produced by using cutting-edge hydroponic technology and cultivating premium-quality crops.

Years ago, as societies became more aware of the harms of pesticides and water overuse, a farm like this would have seemed like a dream of the future. Valbona Duro recalls how the idea came to life. "It was born from a deep passion for sustainable innovation. Seeing the growing problems of land degradation, pesticide overuse, and climate-affected agriculture, we felt a strong need to offer a better alternative," she emphasises.

EU in Albania

Growing herbs without soil can be not just healthy but also environmentally friendly, as hydroponic systems offer numerous health and ecological benefits. They produce fresh, healthy food and increase the nutritional value of crops thanks to specialised LED lamps. These lamps promote chlorophyll photosynthesis in plants, enhancing their growth and improving the taste of the produce. By combining sustainability, efficiency, and quality, the hydroponic system enables reliable production regardless of weather conditions while ensuring every crop meets the highest standards of health and flavour.

"Albaponik uses a recirculating hydroponic system, where plants grow in nutrient-enriched water instead of soil. This water is continuously filtered and reused, delivering vital minerals directly to the roots while minimising waste. Our system aligns perfectly with the European Green Agenda, as it reduces water usage by up to 90% compared to traditional farming - making it both eco-friendly and sustainable," says Valbona Duro from Albaponik.

EU in Albania

The farm has received support from EU4Innovation to improve its microclimate, secure energy sources, automate and digitise operations, and enhance delivery efficiency. This has enabled year-round production, faster delivery times, uninterrupted power supply, and precise operational control.

"This is an example of how we are supporting start-ups in Albania to become sustainable. You can see how beautiful this place is, how vigorous the lettuces, tomatoes, and peppers are - and they're all grown with zero waste. I'm very proud of this programme, which supports 40 businesses in Albania to be sustainable. They use innovation, because innovation is the future of Albania. It's the way to find niches where Albanian businesses can become competitive once Albania joins the EU. It's also a good way of providing Albanian agriculture with sustainable development, because agriculture here is mostly driven by small farmers, and they need to find niches where they can serve consumers and also be able to export," said the EU Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, during a visit to Albaponik.

As the waves of this green sea shine under the sun, and the sound of trickling water is heard throughout the farm, where white structures are the only elements breaking the endless green, one feels as though they're standing in the middle of a laboratory and wonders: why are these plants considered so healthy?

EU in Albania

"At Albaponik, we grow food with zero pesticides and herbicides. Our controlled environment and precise nutrient delivery ensure that plants grow naturally, with maximum nutritional value and no chemical residues. The result? Fresh, flavourful, and truly healthy produce you can trust," explains Duro, noting that the controlled method consistently preserves nutritional values.

Albaponik grows a diverse selection of leafy greens, herbs, and vegetables. They cater to a growing market by partnering with supermarket chains, organic food stores, local restaurants, and eco-conscious consumers. "These partnerships help us ensure consistent demand and strong brand recognition in the fresh produce sector," says Duro. The aroma of fresh basil fills the farm, transforming it into a vast garden that stirs memories of childhood village homes.

Background information

EU4Innovation has played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and engagement within Albania's start-up and innovation ecosystem and increasing its visibility, supporting over 100 ecosystem events during the implementation period. The European Union, Germany and Sweden are working to create high paying jobs in Albania, by developing the innovation economy. Through The Challenge Fund, EU4Innovation has established a competitive financing facility which is used as a means of addressing the issue of access to finance for innovative companies at all stages of development (idea, validation, growth and scale-up). The vision of the Challenge Fund is boosting a vibrant innovation ecosystem by providing funding to the most promising companies to carry them through the 'valley of death' and scale up their innovative businesses, while looking for innovative solutions that leverage Albania know-how and create improvement and value, by introducing new ideas, methods, or products.

European External Action Service published this content on June 12, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 12, 2025 at 12:08 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io