Excursions

This excursion to a hilly region focuses on work and work organisation on farms in the context of Generation Z and the shift in values between generations.
You will visit two different farms, each with its own unique approach, offering some sort of diversification, such as agritourism or educational programs. One farm is situated in the canton of Luzern, the other in the hilly Emmental Region.
 

The excursion starts at approximately 9:00 a.m. and ends around 5:00 p.m. in Bern. You should always allow extra time for the return trip, as Fridays are busy days and delays are to be expected.
 

Information regarding the exact start time and departure location (near Bern train station) will be provided at a later date.
 

Duration: Full day
Important information: Bus journey at least 1 hour each way

This excursion in the greater Bern area focuses on women-led businesses and highlights gender-specific challenges in Swiss agriculture.
 

You will visit two farms where women hold (co-)management positions. Regula took over the family farm after a career in the chemical industry and is currently experimenting with different crops to find her own path in agriculture.
Ursula and her husband have diversified their farm by adding agritourism, meat production, and their speciality: silkworms.
 

The excursion starts at approximately 9:00 a.m. and ends around 5:00 p.m. in Bern. You should always allow extra time for the return trip, as Fridays are busy days and delays are to be expected.
 

Information regarding the exact start time and departure location (near Bern train station) will be provided at a later date.
 

Duration: Full day
Important information: Greater Bern area

The excursion to the Lake Murten region provides insights into agricultural businesses (dairy cattle and crop production) that are consistently committed to automation.
 

You will have the opportunity to tour both a fully automated dairy farm and a vegetable farm that uses field robotics.
 

The excursion starts at approximately 9:00 a.m. and ends around 5:00 p.m. in Bern. You should always allow extra time for the return trip, as Fridays are busy days and delays are to be expected.
 

Information regarding the exact start time and departure location (near Bern train station) will be provided at a later date.
 

Duration: Full day
Important information: Bus journey, 30min, Seeland

The excursion to the Jura region shows how agricultural businesses are responding to climate change, what adjustments have already been made in terms of water management, and how this is changing the work on the farm.
 

You will visit two farms in the region of Basel that have already adapted their production to climate change or are in the process of doing so (e.g., water management, water reserves, etc.)
 

The excursion starts at approximately 9:00 a.m. and ends around 5:00 p.m. in Bern. You should always allow extra time for the return trip, as Fridays are busy days and delays are to be expected.
 

Information regarding the exact start time and departure location (near Bern train station) will be provided at a later date.
 

Duration: Full day
Important information: Bus journey min.1 hour

The excursion offers insights into the general working conditions on alpine farms and the special features of seasonal jobs. Two alpine farms in the Bernese Oberland will be visited.
You will travel to Beatenberg and take the cable car from there. To visit the farms, a walk of 2 hours is planned, with a view on the Alps and the Lake of Thun. Proper footwear (no sandals or similar) and a basic level of fitness are essential!

The excursion starts at approximately 08:30 a.m. and ends around 5:00 p.m. in Bern. You should always allow extra time for the return trip, as Fridays are busy days and delays are to be expected.

Information regarding the exact start time and departure location (near Bern train station) will be provided at a later date.

Duration: Full day

Important information 
Please note: long excursion including hikes up to the alpine farms, bring solid footwear.

On this tour, we encounter alternative forms of Swiss agriculture that seek a path outside the 'norm', such as permaculture gardens and agroforestry trials.
First, you’ll visit the community at Balmeggberg, where self-sufficiency and a collective mindset are central. Next, you’ll meet Regula on her farm, who takes an innovative approach to permaculture and agroforestry. Both farms are located in the hilly Emmental region.
 

The excursion starts at approximately 08:30 a.m. and ends around 5:00 p.m. in Bern. You should always allow extra time for the return trip, as Fridays are busy days and delays are to be expected.
 

Information regarding the exact start time and departure location (near Bern train station) will be provided at a later date.

You'll be visiting Bastian and his cousin, who have just taken over a farm near Kiesen. They'll tell you about what motivates them and their plans for the future.
 

The half-day excursion starts at approximately 9:30 a.m. and ends around 12:30 p.m. in Bern.
Information regarding the exact start time and departure location (near Bern train station) will be provided at a later date.

Duration: Half day
Important information: Greater Bern area

The excursion highlights urban agriculture in the context of the tension between city and farm – with proximity to consumers as well as opportunities and challenges. Farms in the urban environment and a weekly market are visited on foot.
You’ll meet a fairly new collective that runs an urban farm in Bern—on foot and by public transportation.
 

The half-day excursion starts at approximately 9:30 a.m. and ends around 1:00 p.m. in Bern.
Information regarding the exact start time and departure location (near Bern train station) will be provided at a later date.
 

Duration Half day
 

Important information: On foot, walking time 30 minutes to 1 hour at a stretch