Management for the Organic Sector: Organic Food & Business
Course ambassadors give prospective students an authentic insight into university life. Paula Kaiser and Andreas Sonnenberger explain what makes their degree programme special.
When people hear the word ‘organic’, many think only of Agriculture – how exactly does your degree programme link sustainable food with business and management?
Paula and Andreas: It’s true that ‘organic’ makes you think of Agriculture, but that’s just the start: we learn how food raw materials are processed so that, in the end, a finished product can be placed on the shelf. Marketing is crucial in ensuring that products are bought in the first place. As part of our studies, we explore how to effectively communicate the benefits of an organic product to consumers. Market research and political frameworks, such as food sector legislation, are also integral parts of our course.
In the 2026 CHE Ranking, the Organic Food & Business degree programme received a good assessment for its relevance to professional practice. How practice-oriented is the programme structured?
Our degree programme includes a very high proportion of practical work. As we are part of a department of Agriculture, we encounter a great many practical examples relating to agricultural topics, whether in crop production on trial fields or on organic farms in the cowshed. From the third semester onwards, we then visit processing companies such as dairies or beekeeping businesses. Of course, during the practical semester – which is spent entirely on an organic farm – you gain a wealth of further insights and experience.
What skills do you take away from your degree that will benefit you later in your career – even outside the traditional organic sector?
You receive a sound business education that is useful in any company, as well as a solid grounding in Agriculture. And what’s particularly crucial is that the broad range of subjects gives you an excellent understanding of how the system works.
Who is a degree in Organic Food & Business particularly suited to?
The degree programme is suitable for anyone with an interest in sustainable and healthy nutrition, as well as in the economy and the entire food value chain, and who is open to new and innovative foods.
What are your responsibilities as programme ambassadors, and who can get in touch with you?
As programme ambassadors, we are the direct points of contact for all prospective students. This involves answering questions that you might not feel comfortable asking a professor: for example, how challenging the science subjects are, the good way to find accommodation, or what student life in Freising is like. But of course, we’re always happy to help with any questions you may have.
