“Botanica is an innovative project that aims to revolutionise plant protection by providing a safe, effective and environmentally friendly biopesticide. This product seeks to replace traditional chemical pesticides, which have negative impacts such as soil and water pollution, harm to biodiversity and risks to human health. Based on natural ingredients with antifungal, antibacterial and insecticidal properties, Botanica will be a safe choice for farmers and consumers seeking organic and sustainable products,” says Adela Lamçe, one of the winners of the Hackathon organised by the EU Delegation to Albania as part of the EU4Education Campaign.

EU Delegation to Albania

As the campaign highlighted all the initiatives supported by the European Union, the Hackathon gathered dozens of young innovators from Albania, demonstrating how the younger generation can work towards a future where society is aware of environmental issues and supports green living.

But how is it that a 19-year-old girl from Korça, studying Computer Science and AI like Lamçe, winner of the Sustainable Agriculture challenge, is concerned about farming, plants and biopesticides? “It’s a time when farmers are expected to have organic products. A trader suggested to my father that he use a combination of medicinal plants instead of pesticides. I happened to be there and, since then, I’ve been thinking about it and working on the idea. This biopesticide will be produced by combining medicinal plants with different characteristics, each targeting specific plant diseases. Botanica is an insecticide that combats plant-damaging insects without harming other organisms,” she explains.

She intends to create a biopesticide that coexists in harmony with the ecosystem by using plant extracts and beneficial microorganisms, aiming to eliminate pests without negatively affecting other organisms essential to agriculture, such as bees and earthworms. Through research and laboratory testing, Botanica will be formulated to provide long-term protection against diseases and insects, reducing the need for frequent applications and making it a more cost-effective solution for farmers.

EU Delegation to Albania

Another winner whose idea addresses environmental challenges is Olisa Sinani, a designer and fashion student at the University of Arts in Tirana. She won the Sustainable Fashion challenge with ‘Pëlhura e Rilindjes’, an initiative built on the core principles of sustainable fashion: reducing waste by recycling clothes that would otherwise end up in landfill, promoting reuse and transformation as every old material takes on a new, valuable form, supporting the local economy through collaboration with Albanian artisans, raising community awareness by involving people in tangible environmental actions, and creating long-lasting products with a story to tell.

EU Delegation to Albania

She and her sisters produce personalised tote bags using old clothes brought in by people who wish to have a tote bag decorated with details from Albanian dances, embroidery or paintings — including an inside label telling the story of the clothing’s origin and a short history of the traditional dance from a particular region.

 “The idea came by blending two strong feelings within me: my love for fashion and my concern for the waste it leaves behind. Seeing how many clothes are forgotten, burned or thrown away, I thought: why not give a second life to something that once had value to someone? Then I remembered our cultural treasures — embroideries, symbols, colours. That’s when I realised that I didn’t just want to create bags, but a message: that the fashion of the future is one that remembers the past and protects the planet,” says Sinani, emphasising that sustainable fashion is not only about what we wear — it’s about how we think, live, and respect the world around us.

EU Delegation to Albania

The third winner comes from the category of Sustainable Tourism — an initiative designed to help tourists and adventurers who enjoy the mountains, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for those travelling through unexplored terrain.

‘HikeMate’ will be an app dedicated to mountain activities and outdoor tourism, offering a range of services including navigation tools, weather and hazard warnings, matchmaking, experience sharing with the community, and personalised advice on outdoor ethics. Users will be able to track and mark their routes using GPS to ensure accurate, loss-free navigation. The app will function even when offline, providing real-time information about weather conditions and potential natural hazards, warning users of any risks in the region and recommending safer alternative routes,” says Katerina Bllaca.

EU Delegation to Albania

As everything started from her passion for hiking as a child, the idea behind this app is a combination of personal experience, a love for mountain adventures, and a vision to use technology in a practical and sustainable way. “We are creating HikeMate to help travellers, but the project also focuses on promoting mountain tourism and supporting the local economy, including tourism guides and groups that help develop tourism in Albania,” adds Kaltrina.

This initiative is in line with the annual #ForOurPlanet campaign aimed to activate citizens all over the world to protect, restore and care for our beautiful planet.