TIRANA, June 26 /ATA/ – The first meeting of partners in the “CryoConnect” project, a regional initiative to establish a cross-border cryobank for Western Balkan countries, was held at the Albanian Academy of Sciences on Thursday.
Researchers from Albania, Italy, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, and other regional countries participated in the event.
The project builds on the activities of the Scientific Research Center for Biotechnology and Genetics (QKBGJ) within the Albanian Academy of Sciences, the University of Tirana, and various Balkan and international partner institutions.
The meeting aimed to present current research and experiences in the cryopreservation of regional plant germplasm and to clarify the roles and responsibilities of involved parties.
Following opening remarks by academics Anila Hoda and Genc Sulçebe, Dr. Lorenzo Maggioni, Executive Secretary of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR), and Dr. Miloš Faltus, Chair of the ECPGR Working Group on Cryopreservation, emphasized the importance of such collaborations and the inclusion of long-term preservation techniques for native plant germplasm.
The Albanian delegation provided a comprehensive overview of recent advances in in vitro plant biotechnology and its applications for long-term conservation, presented by Academician Efigjeni Kongjika and Professor Valbona Sota, who highlighted the Academy’s support for advancing these scientific initiatives.
Hosting the meeting in Albania formalizes the project’s implementation and establishes a common working framework for all partners.
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