Biodynamic agriculture is a type of farming that started in 1924 and was created by Rudolf Steiner. It is one of the first methods of organic farming. This approach sees soil health, plant growth, and animal care as connected parts of an ecosystem. It focuses on spiritual and mystical ideas.

Biodynamic farming shares some similarities with other organic methods. It uses manure and compost, and it does not use artificial fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. However, biodynamic farming has unique practices. It treats animals, plants, and soil as one system. It also focuses on growing and selling food locally, and it uses traditional or newly developed local plant and animal breeds. Some methods include using an astrological calendar to decide when to plant or sow crops. Biodynamic farming uses special herbal and mineral mixtures for soil and plants. These mixtures are made using methods that are not based on scientific farming, such as putting ground quartz inside a cow's horn and burying it, which is said to help the soil absorb "cosmic forces."

Scientific studies have not found any differences in results between biodynamic farming and other organic or integrated farming methods. Biodynamic agriculture is considered a pseudoscience because it relies on unproven spiritual and mystical beliefs instead of scientific evidence.

As of 2022, biodynamic farming was practiced on 255,051 hectares across 65 countries. Germany, Italy, and France use the most biodynamic methods, with Germany responsible for 42% of the total. Other countries average about 1,750 hectares each. Many famous vineyards use biodynamic methods to grow grapes. Organizations like Demeter International set standards for certifying biodynamic products.

History

Biodynamics was the first modern form of organic agriculture. It began in 1924 when philosopher Rudolf Steiner gave eight lectures on agriculture at Schloss Koberwitz in Silesia, Germany (now Kobierzyce in Poland). These lectures, the first known introduction to organic farming, were held because farmers noticed problems with soil health and the quality of crops and livestock after using chemical fertilizers. The 111 people who attended came from six countries, mostly Germany and Poland. The lectures were published in November 1924, and the first English version appeared in 1928 as The Agriculture Course.

Steiner said the methods he proposed should be tested through experiments. To do this, he created a research group called the "Agricultural Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners of the General Anthroposophical Society." Between 1924 and 1939, this group had about 800 members worldwide. Another group, the "Association for Research in Anthroposophical Agriculture," led by German agronomist Erhard Bartsch, tested biodynamic methods on soil, plants, and animals. This group published a monthly journal called Demeter. Bartsch also helped create a sales organization for biodynamic products called Demeter, which still exists today. The research group was renamed the Imperial Association for Biodynamic Agriculture in 1933 but was dissolved by the National Socialist regime in 1941. In 1931, the association had 250 members in Germany, 109 in Switzerland, 104 in other European countries, and 24 outside Europe. The oldest biodynamic farms are Wurzerhof in Austria and Marienhöhe in Germany.

In 1938, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer published Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening in five languages: English, Dutch, Italian, French, and German. This book became a key reference in the field for many years. The next year, Pfeiffer’s book was published in Danish by Carl Vett. In 1939, Pfeiffer traveled to the UK at the invitation of Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne, and gave a lecture at a conference called the Betteshanger Summer School and Conference on Biodynamic Farming at Northbourne’s farm in Kent. This event is called the "missing link" between biodynamic and organic farming because, the year after Betteshanger, Northbourne wrote Look to the Land, where he introduced the term "organic farming" and praised Steiner’s methods. In the 1950s, Hans Mueller used Steiner’s ideas to develop organic-biological farming in Switzerland, which later became Bioland, the largest certifier of organic products in Europe.

Today, biodynamics is practiced in more than 50 countries and in many different farming situations, such as growing crops in France, producing cotton in Egypt, and raising silkworms in China. Demeter International is the main certification group for biodynamic farms and gardens. In 2020, Demeter International and the International Biodynamic Association joined to form the Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International.

• In the United States, biodynamic farming began in 1926. From 1926 to 1938, 39 farmers and gardeners in the US used biodynamic methods. The Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Association was created in 1938 as a New York state organization.
• In Great Britain, biodynamic farming began in 1927. In 1928, the Anthroposophical Agricultural Foundation was started in England and is now called the Biodynamic Agriculture Association. In 1939, the first biodynamic agriculture conference in Britain, the Betteshanger Summer School and Conference on Biodynamic Farming, was held at Lord Northbourne’s farm in Kent. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer was the main speaker.
• In Australia, the first biodynamic farmer was Ernesto Genoni, who joined the Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners in 1928. His brother, Emilio Genoni, joined soon after. Ernesto Genoni’s first biodynamic farm was at Dalmore, Victoria, in 1933. The next year, Ileen Macpherson and Ernesto Genoni started Demeter Biological Farm at Dandenong, Victoria, which used biodynamic methods for over two decades. In 1938, Bob Williams gave the first public lecture on biodynamic agriculture in Australia at the home of architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin in Sydney. Since the 1950s, the Biodynamic Research Institute (BDRI) in Powelltown, near Melbourne, has continued research under Alex Podolinsky. In 1989, Biodynamic Agriculture Australia was formed as a nonprofit group.
• In France, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) was created in 1972. One of its founding members was the Swedish Biodynamic Association.
• The University of Kassel had a Department of Biodynamic Agriculture from 2006 to March 2011.
• Emerson College in the UK was founded in 1962 and named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet and thinker. Since then, the college has offered courses based on the ideas of Rudolf Steiner, including those about biodynamic agriculture.
• In Canada, there are currently three biodynamic organizations: The Society for Biodynamic Farming and Gardening in Ontario, The Biodynamic Agricultural Society of British Columbia, and the Association de Biodynamie du Québec. These groups are members of Demeter Canada.

Biodynamic method of farming

Biodynamic agriculture is a type of farming that works with nature to keep the environment healthy. Like other organic farming methods, it uses practices that help protect and improve the balance between living things and the land. Key parts of biodynamic farming include growing a variety of crops, avoiding chemicals from outside the farm, and planning farming in a way that respects both the land and the sky, such as considering the positions of the moon and stars. The Demeter Association, a group that sets standards for biodynamic farming, says that at least 10% of a farm should be a place where plants and animals can live safely, such as forests, wetlands, or areas where insects can thrive. Crops must be rotated so that the same plant is not grown in the same field for more than two years in a row. Farmers must also keep the soil covered with plants year-round to prevent erosion.

Farmers are encouraged to design their land based on the specific conditions of their area. This shows that people have a responsibility to care for the environment, not just for money or basic science. Biodynamic farming treats the whole farm as a living system, where crops, animals, and people work together. The goal is to create healthy soil, strong plants and animals, and high-quality food. Farmers avoid harmful practices and instead use natural methods, like growing plants that help control pests and diseases. Weeds are managed by careful planning, using mulch, and stopping the spread of invasive plants.

Biodynamic farming is different from other organic farming because it includes spiritual and astrological ideas, like believing that the moon and stars affect plants. It shares some goals with a Japanese farming movement called "nature farming," which also focuses on working with natural processes. Important parts of biodynamic farming include using animal waste to help plants grow, improving soil health, and keeping crops and animals healthy. Farmers use cover crops, green manure, and crop rotations to support life in the soil and increase plant and animal diversity.

Many biodynamic farms also focus on building strong communities. They may sell directly to local people or host events on the farm. Some use a model called "Community Supported Agriculture," which connects farmers and consumers in a shared effort. Compared to regular farming, biodynamic methods are better at dealing with environmental problems, supporting biodiversity, and using energy efficiently. These benefits are especially important as the world faces challenges like climate change and population growth.

In 1924, a man named Rudolf Steiner created a set of nine special mixtures to help improve soil and crops. These mixtures, numbered 500 to 508, are made using unusual methods, like putting cow manure in a cow horn and burying it. Some of these mixtures are used to prepare soil, while others are used to make compost. Studies have shown that both biodynamic and organic farming can improve soil quality, but they often produce less food than regular farming. Some research suggests that compost made with biodynamic methods may have better nutrients, but not always because of the special steps Steiner described.

Modern biodynamic farmers believe these mixtures help the soil and compost work better on their own, even if they don’t add a lot of nutrients. However, some scientists say there is no clear evidence that these methods work beyond the nutrients they add. They argue that the practices are based on old ideas and not proven science.

Some of the mixtures use plants that are also used in other farming methods. For example:
– 500: Cow manure is placed in a cow horn, buried in the ground in autumn, and used as fertilizer in spring.
– 501: Crushed quartz is placed in a cow horn, buried in spring, and used in autumn as a spray to help plants.
– 502: Yarrow flowers are placed in deer bladders, dried in the sun, buried in winter, and used in spring.
– 503: Chamomile flowers are placed in cow intestines, buried in soil, and used in spring.
– 504: Stinging nettle plants are buried in peat for a year.
– 505: Oak bark is placed in an animal skull, surrounded by peat, and buried.
– 506: Dandelion flowers are placed in cow organs, buried in winter, and used in spring.
– 507: Valerian flowers are mixed with water.
– 508: Horsetail plants are used.

Biodynamic farmers also believe the moon and stars affect how plants grow. For example, they may choose when to plant or harvest based on the moon’s phase or the zodiac sign it is in. This idea has been called "pseudoscientific" by some scientists.

Biodynamic farming also focuses on using seeds that are naturally pollinated (not genetically modified) and growing plants that are adapted to local conditions.

Biodynamic certification

The Demeter biodynamic certification system, created in 1924, was the first system to officially label and certify organic farming practices. As of 2018, farms seeking biodynamic certification must follow specific rules, including farming practices, care for greenhouses, building requirements, guidelines for raising animals, and steps for handling and processing crops after harvest.

The word "Biodynamic" is a registered trademark owned by the Demeter association, which includes biodynamic farmers. This trademark helps ensure that both farmers and consumers can trust the quality and standards of biodynamic products. Demeter International is a group of countries that work together; each country has its own Demeter organization. These organizations must follow the same global standards for farming and processing, but they may also set higher standards. The original Demeter organization was started in 1928. In the United States, the Demeter Association was formed in the 1980s and certified its first farm in 1982. In France, an organization called Biodyvin certifies biodynamic wine. In Egypt, a group named SEKEM created the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA), which teaches farmers how to become certified. By 2006, more than 200 wineries worldwide had biodynamic certification. Many other wineries use biodynamic methods, though not all are officially certified.

Effectiveness

Research on biodynamic farming has been difficult because it is hard to separate its unique features when comparing different farming methods. Because of this, there is not enough clear evidence showing any specific effects of biodynamic farming.

Biodynamic farming is a type of organic farming. This means it likely has similar traits, such as soil that is not under stress and soil communities that are more varied and connected.

A review from 2009 to 2011 found that fields farmed biodynamically:
• produced less total crops than traditional farms but used energy more efficiently;
• had more earthworms and more total earthworm weight than traditional farms.

These results were similar to those found in organically farmed fields.

Reception

In a 2002 newspaper editorial, Peter Treue, an agricultural researcher at the University of Kiel, called biodynamics pseudoscience. He stated that similar or equal results can be achieved using standard organic farming methods. He wrote that some biodynamic practices resemble alchemy or magic, similar to geomancy.

In a 1994 analysis, Holger Kirchmann, a soil researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, said Steiner’s instructions were occult and dogmatic. He argued that these instructions cannot help develop sustainable agriculture because they lack scientific proof. Kirchmann noted that Steiner’s descriptions do not allow for clear scientific hypotheses, and tests of biodynamic methods have not produced convincing results. In a 2004 review, Linda Chalker-Scott, a researcher at Washington State University, also called biodynamics pseudoscience. She explained that Steiner did not use scientific methods to create his theory, and later additions of organic farming techniques have confused discussions about his original ideas. Based on limited scientific testing, Chalker-Scott concluded there is no evidence that homeopathic preparations improve soil quality.

In The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience, Dan Dugan, as described by Michael Shermer, said biodynamic methods are based only on Steiner’s personal insights. Skeptic Brian Dunning compared biodynamic agriculture to a "magic spell" cast over a farm, stating that biodynamics treats a farm as a single living organism with a "life force."

Florian Leiber, Nikolai Fuchs, and Hartmut Spieß, researchers at the Goetheanum, defended biodynamic principles. They claimed that criticisms denying biodynamics scientific credibility ignore much of its research and management practices. They said biodynamic farmers aim to create a dialogue between biodynamic science and traditional natural sciences, even though their views differ in many ways.

Philosopher of science Michael Ruse wrote that supporters of biodynamic agriculture enjoy being seen as outsiders in scientific circles because of its pseudoscientific nature. He noted they value the mysterious aspects of biodynamics and the idea of being part of a larger movement against modern science, such as genetic modification.

Steiner’s ideas were similar to those of Richard Krzymowski, an agricultural scientist who taught in Breslau since 1922. In 1995, Frank M. Rauch, an environmental scientist, mentioned that Steiner may have used a book by Raoul Heinrich Francé, another source Krzymowski might have used.

In a 2021 scientific paper, Holger Kirchmann wrote that the "living forces" Steiner described, such as auras, are not recognized in science. He said these ideas cannot be tested, which makes them unfalsifiable—a sign of pseudoscience.

In 2021, a research team from the University of Valencia warned about the risk of pseudoscience in beliefs about the moon’s influence on farming. They reviewed over 100 scientific papers, textbooks, and other materials and found no reliable scientific evidence linking lunar phases to plant growth. Physics also does not support a connection between lunar forces and plant responses. Therefore, farming practices based on the moon’s phases lack scientific support.