Marisol Berti, professor of plant sciences, led the “Sustainable Agriculture and Renewable Energies in Europe” Study Abroad” tripthis summer for the fourth time in five years. 

A total of 40 students have traveled with her since 2013 and she has added new learning experiences to the trip each year. This year, the group stopped in more than a dozen cities in seven countries in 19 days. New tour stops included a poppy seed production research facility in Austria, a family owned organic farm and winery in Vienna, Monsanto cucumber breeding program research facilities near Amsterdam and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Stockholm, which specializes in sustainable agriculture research and cropping systems ecology. 

Some of their other stops included Venice, Italy; University of Bologna; Gussing European Center for Renewable Energies near Graz, Austria; Sonennerde composting and biochar plant in Riedlingsdorf; University of Vienna; ice caves near Salzburg; University of Hohenheim near Stuttgart; Kastrup Experimental Station at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark; and Helsinki, Finland. 

Berti says study abroad is a valuable experience and makes them more employable in international agriculture industries. 

Students must attend six hours of classroom teaching and prepare academically before the trip.

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