Endrit Ameti
The focus of my fellowship was to support the Integration of IoT, data interoperability, and standardisation practices into agricultural digital transformation frameworks.
The main gaps addressed through this fellowship were the lack of national policy alignment, weak participation in standardisation processes, and limited awareness of ICT interoperability frameworks in the Western Balkans, particularly Kosovo. Until recently, standardisation in agriculture was not part of the national digitalisation agenda, leaving many innovations fragmented and incompatible with EU frameworks.
In this context, I contributed to the national consultation and standardisation alignment process that shaped the Digital Agriculture Programme and Action Plan 2025–2028 in Kosovo, referencing European standards such as SAFE4Agri, ETSI SAREF4Agri, and ISO/IEC 30141.
Through the fellowship, I helped initiate dialogue between national authorities, FAO–AKIS, and regional organisations to begin integrating ICT standardisation principles into agriculture policy.
The challenge was not only technical but also institutional and educational — to convince policymakers and agricultural associations of the value of adopting open European standards. As one of the first developers to successfully deploy smart irrigation IoT solutions in Kosovo, I used practical examples to demonstrate the benefits of standardisation and its role in improving interoperability, transparency, and SME innovation.
This fellowship therefore contributed to bridging the policy gap between innovation and regulation, ensuring that Western Balkan countries begin integrating EU ICT standardisation frameworks into their national digital-agriculture strategies.
Through cooperation with national authorities and regional business associations, I helped raise awareness among SMEs, farmers, and policymakers about the value of interoperable digital tools. This strengthened digital literacy, encouraged data-driven decision-making, and fostered trust in technology within the agricultural community.
