📋 Tender Overview
October 9, 2025
(October 9, 2025) Veitshochheim/Munich - The State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture in Veitshochheim has a new management: Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber appointed Ministerial Councilor Dr. Jorg Hirsche as the new head of the traditional institution. The 48-year-old succeeded Andreas Maier, who is retiring, on October 1st and whom the minister honored with the Bavarian Lion for his special services at the handover in Veitshochheim.
The minister thanked the outgoing president: Andreas Maier has led the state institute with commitment and foresight over the past five years. His entire career has been characterized by great passion for the cause, with which he has tirelessly developed and strengthened the agricultural administration. The Free State of Bavaria owes him a great debt of gratitude. At the same time, Kaniber emphasized: With Dr. Hirsche, we have an at least equally passionate expert at the helm who will promote viticulture, horticulture, beekeeping and school operations with heart and expertise. And further: He knows the issues from practice, brings strategic experience from the ministry and will lead the state institute powerfully into the future.
The State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture in Veitshochheim is considered a center of excellence with great appeal. It combines research, advice and education in the areas of viticulture, beekeeping, horticulture and land conservation. This facility is a treasure for Bavaria. Ideas and innovations are created here that have a direct impact in practice - for our winegrowers through to horticultural businesses, beekeepers and recreational gardeners throughout the country, says Kaniber.
Mr. Dr. Jorg Hirsche, born in Selb in the Wunsiedel district, completed training in horticulture after military service and studied horticultural science at the Technical University of Munich-Weihenstephan. He completed his doctorate at the University of Wurzburg. After his traineeship and the state examination, Hirsche started his professional career in 2010 as a teacher at the State Technical College for Agricultural Economics in Landshut-Schonbrunn. Two years later, in 2012, he moved to the Ministry of Agriculture. From October 2016, he represented the State Ministry at the Bavarian representation in Brussels for four years and returned to the ministry in 2020. There he headed the viticulture and horticulture department from March 2022.
Mr. Andreas Maier, born in Truchtlaching in the Traunstein district, studied agricultural sciences at the Technical University of Munich-Weihenstephan. After his traineeship and state examination, he began his professional career in 1990 at what was then the Karlstadt Office of Agriculture. In 1994 he was transferred to the government of Lower Franconia. At the beginning of July 2005 he returned to the office in Karlstadt, but was transferred to the State Management Academy for Food, Agriculture and Forestry in October 2005. After working in the Ministry of Agriculture for almost a year, he moved to the state technical school center in Triesdorf as headmaster in 2008. In 2012 he was appointed head of the Wurzburg Agricultural Office and moved again to the government of Lower Franconia in 2018. Since June 2020, he has been President of the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture in Veitshochheim.
