Learning on two wheels: an international excursion through the agricultural landscape of Franconia
On 3 June 2026, 49 international students from the International Summer Term – Agriculture, Food and Nutrition (Bachelor’s) programme undertook a practical field trip through the agricultural region surrounding the Triesdorf campus – travelling in an environmentally friendly manner by bicycle. The excursion was organised as part of the module ‘Agriculture and Food Industry in Germany’ under the management of Dr Bernd Müller. The aim was to give students a direct insight into sustainable agricultural practices and regional value chains.
An insight into dairy farming and biogas production
The first stop was the Beyser family’s dairy farm in Hirschlach. Tobias Beyser introduced the group to the housing system for cows and calves and explained the milking process, feeding, milk storage and the farm’s biogas production. The students also received information on energy generation and the supply of heat to regional households.
Sustainable pig farming and direct marketing
The group then visited Robert Sand’s pig fattening farm with its own butcher’s shop in Ornbau. The farm has been successfully focusing on direct marketing since 2000. The students were able to observe the processing of meat and sausage products and were invited to a lunch featuring the farm’s own produce. They then toured the nearby ‘cave barn’, where around 150 pigs are kept in a species-appropriate manner with access to fresh air and quiet areas.
Practical learning and intercultural exchange
The excursion not only offered the international students valuable insights into German Agriculture, but also promoted intercultural exchange and an understanding of sustainable regional development. It is an integral part of the practice-oriented teaching at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences and underlines the importance of regional networks for the training of future professionals in the agricultural and food sector.
