CNVP Albania hosted the Annual Meeting of the Local Economic Development (LED) Project on 11 March 2026 together with representatives from the Embassy of Sweden in Albania, the project’s donor. The meeting combined field visits in Berat with discussions on the progress and results achieved during 2025.

The day began with visits to two important actors in the MAPs value chain in the Berat region. Participants visited a local seedling nursery, where improved seedlings for medicinal and aromatic plants are being produced to support farmers with higher-quality planting material. The delegation also visited a MAPs exporting company, where they observed the processing and preparation of Albanian herbs for international markets. These visits highlighted the growing importance of quality inputs, processing capacity and strong partnerships between farmers and businesses within the sector.

Following the field visits, CNVP presented the main achievements of the LED project during 2025. The project continues to support income generation opportunities for rural households involved in the cultivation, collection and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants by strengthening cooperation among actors across the value chain.

Key results presented during the meeting included investments in modern drying and post-harvest technologies, helping improve product quality and reduce losses after harvesting. The project also supported processing companies to upgrade their facilities and adopt energy-efficient solutions, contributing to more sustainable and competitive production.

Another important area of progress has been the promotion of cultivation of high-value MAP species, expanding opportunities for farmers while reducing pressure on wild plant resources. In addition, the project explored innovative opportunities such as myco-forestry and sustainable wild mushroom production, highlighting new economic potential in forest landscapes.

The meeting concluded with discussions on sector challenges and future opportunities. CNVP and the Embassy of Sweden reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting the development of Albania’s MAPs sector, strengthening rural livelihoods while promoting sustainable use of natural resources.