EXCURSIONS
During the excursion day, August 26, participants can select one of the following excursions where the city and bog are listed. There will be scientific content on all excursions and, of course, the best of Estonian nature!
The organiser reserves the right to make changes to the excursion programmes as necessary, including due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.
Day trip 1 – Field crops and applied research
Large-scale crop production systems, experimental research and sustainable farming practices.
Estonian University of Life Sciences Experimental Station
Part of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, the Rõhu Experimental Station, located 10 km from Tartu, spans 60 hectares and serves as a hub for crop production research, soil science, and sustainable technologies. The station features advanced technologies such as an autonomous field robot for precision agriculture and UAV-based monitoring and spraying systems.
In 2024, it hosted the World Ploughing Championships, and in 2025, a new facility was opened to support bioresource valorisation and collaboration between researchers and entrepreneurs. Visitors will explore selected field experiments, including long-term crop rotation trials and studies on annual, cover, and perennial crops. More information: https://pk.emu.ee/en
Production visit – Rannu Seeme Ltd.
Rannu Seeme Ltd. is an Estonian family-owned seed and crop production company established in 1993, focusing on the practical implementation of sustainable and climate-smart agriculture.
The farm manages over 2,000 hectares of arable land, producing cereals, oilseeds, and legumes while integrating environmentally oriented practices such as cover cropping, diversified crop rotations, and pollinator habitats. It combines conventional and conservation tillage systems with precision agriculture technologies, including soil monitoring, satellite data, and drone-based crop assessment.
This visit provides insight into how data-driven crop management and sustainable practices are implemented at a commercial scale under Northern European conditions.
Mustjärve bog
Mustjärve Nature Trail is a 2.3 km circular trail (difficulty level: very easy) located near Lake Võrtsjärv, running through a bog pine forest and offering a quiet nature experience.
The trail surrounds Mustjärv, a shallow (maximum depth ~1 m), 23-hectare lake with a muddy bottom, unsuitable for swimming. Visitors can experience characteristic bog landscapes, forest acoustics, and seasonal wild berries such as lingonberries and blueberries.
Approximate time schedule
| 8:30 | Departure from Tartu |
| 8:45-11:00 | Rõhu experimental station |
| 11:30-13:00 | Production visit - Rannu Seeme |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:15-15:15 | Mustjärve bog hike |
| 16:15 | Arrival back in Tartu |
Day trip 2 – Horticultural crops and peat
Horticultural production systems and peat as a key resource in growing media.
Polli Horticultural Research Centre