MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Kansas State University’s (KSU) Master of Agribusiness (MAB) program is offering travel to France, Italy and Switzerland to learn about the food and agriculture industry in Europe.

The trip will include stops in Lyon and Paris, France, Rome and Milan, Italy, and Lucerne, Switzerland. The tour is scheduled for Aug. 1 – 13, and is open to anyone with an interest in international agribusiness. Close to 25 individuals have committed to joining the group, but there is space for a few more.

The trip will include visits to crop and cattle farms, dairies, cheese-making operations, wineries, and olive groves, as well as professional visits to agricultural and food related industries. Guided sightseeing tours will be arranged along with free time to explore Rome and Paris.

Allen Featherstone, agricultural economics professor and director of the Master of Agribusiness program, feels the study tour offers a great opportunity for North American decision makers in food and agriculture to look at major competitors in grains, beef and dairy.

“European consumers are much more focused on local production and the connection with where, and how, their food is produced. In addition, their views on the use of biotechnology differ quite substantially than those in the U.S. and other regions. Understanding the producers’ reactions to a very different food consumer may be helpful if U.S. consumers’ attitudes toward food continue to change,” Featherstone said.

Previous international trips hosted by the Master of Agribusiness program have been to South America, Russia, Southeast Asia, and Australia and New Zealand.

“These trips have been to countries with amazing and diverse scenery and exposed us to fascinating cultural and scenic aspects that an average tourist would not have the opportunity to experience. One of my favorite things was getting to know the group members. There is such a great dynamic on MAB trips,” said Leah Tsoodle, land use value coordinator at KSU.

KSU’s Master of Agribusiness is an award-winning, distance-education degree program that focuses on food and agribusiness management. Students and alumni work in every sector of the food and agribusiness industry and are located in 40 states within the U.S. and in more than 25 countries.

More information about the trip can be found at http://mab.ksu.edu/Alumni/Europe12.html or by contacting Mary Bowen at 1.785.532.4435, or [email protected].