Dozens of tons of Albanian fruits and vegetables have been returned from foreign markets after being caught with high levels of pesticides, raising serious concerns about food safety in the country. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama chose to speak about “food sovereignty” at the International Conference on Life Sciences and Agriculture, held at the Agricultural University of Tirana.
From the podium, Rama emphasized the need for the protection of natural resources and the preparation of new generations of specialists, while praising the leaders of the Agricultural University for the "transformation" of the institution.
"Today, the Agricultural University has become a vanguard of transformation, an ambition for the Albania of tomorrow. A vanguard of the high responsibility of those who knock on the doors of our universities," said Rama, not sparing even the jokes towards the democratic rector Fatbardh Sallaku.
"I would never praise a Democrat so much. But I have realized that when Democrats have no hair, it is easier for me to find an alliance with them," he added with humor.
In his speech, Rama also recalled the moments of cooperation with the Austrian university "BOKU" and the 20% increase in the number of students at the Agricultural University, calling this a "sign of optimism" for the future of agricultural education in the country.
However, for experts in the field, before talking about "food sovereignty," Albania must face the basic challenge of food security — ensuring that its products are safe, controlled, and acceptable to European Union markets.
