I graduated in Agronomy (2000) from the Agriculture University of Tirana (AUT). In 2001 I received the Permaculture Consultant’s Design Certificate with Rosemary Morrow as a teacher. I have co-translated her ‘Earth’s User Guide to Permaculture’ into Albanian as well as 1st chapter of Bill Mollison’s “Introduction to Permaculture’. In the same year, the participants of that course found Albanian Permaculture Association which I have chaired since then. We continued to promote permaculture in Albania through various projects and activities.
I understood that teaching and practicing permaculture required a holistic and in-depth view of many disciplines. Thus, besides working for development projects, I continued formal specializations in various countries including a three-year (2002 – 2003 – 2004) specialization course in Sustainable Development of Agricultural, Environmental and Rural Systems, organized by UniAdrion and University of Bologna. This has helped me to develop the skills to realize a system thinking of sustainable food security. This has motivated me to get a second degree as Agrarian Economist in 2005.
In 2005 I started to work as full time lecturer at the Department of Horticulture and Plant Protection teaching biology of horticulture crops and fruit breeding. I also introduced Permaculture as elective course in 2007. My research has shifted from biological control of pests and diseases of horticultural crops (master and doctorate thesis at AUT) to policy research in sustainable agricultural development (my PhD at the University of Bologna). In all development projects with many donors I have tried to promote sustainability and have drafted on behalf of the Government of Albania various policy documents and strategies, i.e. the Action Plan for Organic Farming in Albania or sustainable development programs. I have also lectured courses and tutored foreign students from Balkans on organic agriculture at specialization courses, summer schools and master of sciences in the sustainable development of agricultural and rural areas organized by the University of Bologna. I have authored many papers on biological control, organic farming policies, the environmental impact of agricultural practices, use of agricultural waste for energy production, characterisation of local fruit germplasm and wild relatives.
As climate changes were drastically affecting agriculture productivity and genetic resources, from 2010 I focused my research on the environmental physiology of fruit crops and resilient agriculture. Most of my master and doctorate students have conducted research on deficit irrigation techniques and stress physiology.
In the last 20 years, I have been working as a consultant in a multitude of projects especially related to building up grower cooperatives, experimenting with organic growing of herbs and fruits. I have published many booklets and manuals for farmers and specialists.
Since 2016 that I’m heading the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at AUT, we introduced Landscape Architecture as a Bachelor for the first time in Albania. Permaculture is again an elective course within this curriculum and that of Horticulture. We have also introduced for the first time in Albania a post-secondary study program in Gardening and Permaculture is an obligatory course.
After 20 years from my PDC and having a long experience with teaching, research and outreach, now I would to integrated all these experiences into Permaculture and focus fully on teaching and promoting permaculture in Albania.