Ansgar Bergau
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Passion for biological plant protection
Ansgar Bergau - BSc and MSc Organic Agriculture, graduated in 2017.
Currently: crop protection advisor at Biobest Group in Westerlo, Belgium
The vegetable deliveries were canceled
Looking back, an old friend who also studied in Witzenhausen had a strong influence on my choice to study organic farming. This friend was already working on an organic farm before his studies, which offered a vegetable box for members by subscription. He regularly brought the surplus from the vegetable box to my shared flat, where we worked together to process the vegetables into exquisite delicacies. When this friend began his studies in Witzenhausen and the regular vegetable deliveries stopped, I came to Witzenhausen myself once in the summer, visited the International Student Club, lectures in agricultural chemistry, the tropical greenhouse, the jam session organized freely by students, an excursion of the module "Vegetation and Location" and the libraries (DITSL and university library).
After that, I knew what my heart was set on and I enrolled as well.
Love for the tropical greenhouse
After my pre-study internship on a dairy farm, I knew exactly what I wanted to focus on from then on: plants. The introductory events (group work and impulse lectures) during the introductory period for first semester students directed my focus towards crops in the tropics and subtropics. After my first module in the Current Topics in Science and Practice series entitled "Content and Design of Specialist Guided Tours", I fell in love with the greenhouse for tropical and subtropical crops in Witzenhausen (TGH), which has not changed to this day. The TGH not only gave me the opportunity to get to grips with the collection of useful plants. In addition, the curator of the greenhouse offered me a position as a student assistant to support biological plant protection. This activity enriched my love for the TGH with further passion and, wherever possible, shaped my choice of project and thesis topics and areas of work during the compulsory internships. I became a member of the FSR (student council) in order to take advantage of the full range of opportunities for co-determination in the department, where I gained useful experience in the field of university policy committee work.
Approaching the new and the familiar with a critical eye
These components, namely a passion for plant cultivation, organizational work and plant protection, were what drove me to complete my bachelor's and master's degrees within the standard period of study in order to quickly get into the commercial practice of biological plant protection. Even though I now work happily for the Biobest Group (premium league for biocontrol organisms/biological plant protection) and my job fulfills me, I sometimes wonder whether one or two additional semesters beyond the standard period of study might not have been beneficial for even more sustainable learning. I would have liked to have taken a little more time for some modules and assignments and would have liked to have delved even deeper into some of the subject matter. Nevertheless, I am completely grateful and happy for my time at university. For me, I can't imagine a better degree course, despite all the time, creative reflection and critical examination. The Department of Ecological Agricultural Sciences and the entire student body changed my view of the world, gave me valuable knowledge, awakened a strong interest in aspects of the surrounding microcosm of the soil and plant world and improved my ability to approach new and old things with a critical eye.
Thank you University of Kassel, thank you Faculty 11, thank you study coordinator, thank you TGH (especially M. Hethke & R. Braukmann), thank you student council and friends (especially the above), thank you DITSL, thank you Witzenhausen - you have done me a lot of good :)