Three UNESCO Geoparks at the Main Agricultural Festival
Three UNESCO Geoparks at the Main Agricultural Festival
On September 29, the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb, the GEO Nature Park Bergstraße-Odenwald, and the UNESCO Geopark Ries jointly presented themselves at the Agricultural Festival in Stuttgart. Their joint presentation highlighted how closely geology, landscape, and agriculture are intertwined.
What does geology have to do with agriculture? More than one might think at first glance. Geology shapes landscapes and soils, and thus also influences how land can be used and managed. Geoparks highlight these connections, linking landscape, culture, regional characteristics, and the ways in which people use and shape their region. This is precisely where the concept of geoparks intersects with agriculture—because agriculture shapes our cultural landscapes and makes regional diversity immediately tangible.
Geology provides an important foundation for this. It shapes landscapes and soils, and thus also influences how land can be used and managed. At the Agricultural Fair on Stuttgart’s Wasen, visitors were able to learn about this connection by exploring the different landscapes of the three geoparks.
Three geoparks, three landscapes
The UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb is characterized by its distinctive karst landscape, featuring caves, springs, and other geological features. The Bergstraße-Odenwald GEO Nature Park stretches between the Rhine, Main, and Neckar rivers and is home to one of its most famous geotopes: the Felsenmeer near Lautertal. The UNESCO Ries Geopark is named for the Ries Crater, which was formed about 15 million years ago by an asteroid impact.
Frederic Blau, deputy executive director, was on site representing the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb. The GEO-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald was represented by Larissa Arras, deputy executive director, and the UNESCO Geopark Ries by Michaela Seuberth from the marketing department.
Regional Identity and Agriculture
The Albdorf is a perfect complement to the Agricultural Festival. As a regional food and market venue, it brings together local foods, crafts, and the rural way of life, offering a firsthand experience of regional value creation.
The Agricultural Fair will take place from September 27 to October 4, 2026, at the Cannstatter Wasen. With more than 400 exhibitors and approximately 200,000 visitors, this trade and public fair brings together professionals from the agriculture and food industries as well as families and consumers.
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