Excursion to the Production in Germany

30.9.2024

Yelyzaveta Vitrova, a student of our university, who is studying at a German Vocational School at the same time, visited a local production.

Due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation, a significant number of Ukrainian students were forced to leave their homes and move abroad. Many of them continue their studies not only at our university, but also at educational institutions of various European countries, in particular in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other countries. Yelyzaveta Vitrova, a student of our university, is one of these students. She studies not only at the “Earth Sciences” specialty of our university, but also at the Vocational School in Niederprüm (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany).

An important component of professional orientation for young people at the Niederprüm Vocational School is the organization of field trips to production. At the end of September 2024, Yelyzaveta Vitrova, together with her fellow students, visited one of the private farms in the suburbs of Niederprüm, where cattle are raised. During the excursion, students learned that the agricultural sector of Germany plays an important role in the economy of the country and the entire European Union. Germany is one of the largest producers of agricultural products in the EU. The private farm that the students visited is a family business. The farm employs 10 people, including a veterinarian. The head of the farm leases plots of land for the cultivation of various agricultural crops, such as wheat, corn, alfalfa, rye. The farm has its own agricultural machinery. This significantly increases work efficiency and provides an opportunity to promptly carry out all necessary agrotechnical measures, such as plowing, sowing, tillage and harvesting.

The students saw the cowshed, which is equipped with a ventilation system and windows to ensure an optimal microclimate. Automated microclimate control system provides comfortable conditions for animals. A key feature of the farm is an automatic milking machine, thanks to which cows can be milked stress-free, not on a strict schedule. The entire milking system is managed through the farmer’s computer, and the program is connected to the farmer’s smartphone and smartwatch, which allows the process to be monitored from a distance. This ensures constant monitoring, quick response to any changes and improvement of the overall management of the farm.

The students also learned that there is a labeling system for meat and dairy products in Germany. It allows consumers to get clear information about the conditions in which animals were kept before slaughter or during milk production. Such a system enables buyers to make a more informed choice, focusing not only on price or brand, but also on ethical and environmental standards.

The excursion helped the students to better understand the realities of modern agriculture in the developed countries of the world. The students saw with their own eyes the working conditions in the agricultural sector, and were also able to make sure that modern technologies and ethical standards can be combined in agricultural farms, ensuring high productivity, care for the environment and animal welfare.

Department of Chemistry, Geography and Earth Sciences