Albania and FAO expand partnership to protect Albania's chestnuts

Albania has taken a major step to protect its iconic chestnut forests, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) strengthened national efforts by signing a new Cooperation Agreement with six northern municipalities. The agreement expands the successful Tropojë pilot and launches a coordinated nationwide effort to combat the devastating Asian chestnut gall wasp supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The ceremony aimed to formalize cooperation between MARD and the participating municipalities, strengthening coordination and institutional engagement in implementing the project “Improving sustainable chestnut production in Albania through biological control of pest insects.” The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between central and local institutions to implement the biological control program and promote sustainable chestnut production in Albania.

This effort is part of the FAO’s global One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, which helps countries in promoting strategically important agricultural products and strengthening sustainable rural development.

Chestnut forests in northern Albania are facing a serious threat from the Asian chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus), an invasive pest that can cause production losses of up to 80%. Following the success of the pilot program in Tropojë— where the first field laboratory was established to breed beneficial insects that parasitize the pest—the initiative will now be expanded to other northern municipalities with significant chestnut-growing areas. Monitoring conducted in 2025 confirmed the pest’s presence and justified biological control interventions in the municipalities covered by the agreement.

The biological control approach is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution that will improve the health of chestnut forests and support small farmers who rely on the harvesting and sale of chestnuts as a primary source of income.

In his remarks, Andis Salla, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized the importance of the partnership: “Albania has been committed to the OCOP initiative from the outset. This agreement will define the roles and responsibilities of each party to ensure effective management of the intervention. It will help protect farmers’ production, increase chestnut exports, and establish a sustainable biological control model expected to deliver results over the next 8–10 years. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Albania has allocated funding to expand the biological control programme.”

Recalling the recent consultations held by the  Prime Minister of Albania, H.E. Edi Rama with farmers, Minister Salla stressed that the state has a responsibility to support farmers in safeguarding this sensitive sector. “Through cooperation with municipalities and international partners such as FAO, we are building structures that enhance value creation while protecting our natural resources,” he added.

The head of the OCOP project in Albania, Agim Pepkolaj, highlighted the wider benefits for local communities, “Chestnuts are a priority product with significant potential to drive economic development for small farmers in mountainous areas while also creating opportunities for rural tourism. This program demonstrates how inter-institutional cooperation and innovative nature-based solutions are essential to minimize pest impacts, protect traditional crops, and strengthen the resilience of local communities.”

Representatives from governments, private sector and other stakeholders at the singing ceremony. ©FAO/Enki Shkreta

Key components of the Agreement

• Establishment of Regional Laboratories: Setting up of centers for breeding and distributing biological control agents.
• Municipal Engagement: The participating municipalities of Malësi e Madhe, Shkodër and Fushë-Arrëz will provide facilities, technical staff, and logistical support for monitoring and field release of insects.
• FAO Technical Support: Local and international experts will train local municipal personnel in pest management practices.
• Long-term Sustainability: The process anticipates gradual forest recovery, with initial results expected after four years and full production restored within 8–10 years following intervention.

What is OCOP and its activity in Albania

FAO’s OCOP initiative promotes the sustainable development of special agricultural products with unique qualities, market potential, and cultural significance by strengthening the entire value chain—from production to marketing. In Albania, OCOP focuses on chestnuts, a vital source of income for mountain communities in the Tropojë region, which in recent years has been seriously threatened by the Asian gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus).

Through OCOP, FAO is supporting MARD in implementing an innovative biological control program, including the establishment of field laboratories to breed beneficial insects that combat the pest. Beyond protecting chestnut forests in Tropojë, the initiative strengthens a more competitive and inclusive value chain by combining international expertise with modern technologies, ensuring heritage preservation and long-term production growth. This year, FAO, in cooperation with MARD and the Municipality of Tropojë, has begun the biological control intervention.