4/2016
Biodynamics in the World
The Newsletter of Demeter International, the International Biodynamic Association, and the
Agricultural Section at the Goetheanum
Dear members and friends of Biodynamic farming,
I trust you have enjoyed the Newsletter over the past ten years of my
tenure, but now it is time to hand it over – from 2017 it is envisaged
that it will be under the direction of Christoph Simpfendörfer, our
general secretary for Demeter International.
Ian Henderson
[email protected]
Standards and Standards Committee
The standards committee in conjunction with nutrition expertise at
the Goetheanum has decided that the full homogenization of coconut
milk and cream is analogue to the homogenisation of dairy products
and is not permitted. The milk/cream may have a degree of
homogenization arising from normal pumping etc. during processing
that does not exceed 30%. All additives including emulsifiers,
thickening agents etc. are prohibited.
Homogenised dairy milk may be used in ice-cream
production/partially homogenised dairy milk in yoghurt, and the same
criteria will apply to coconut milk/cream used in these products.
Standards amendments are foreseen – an additional section in the
fruit and vegetable chapter for coconut milk and cream, with further
references to coconut oil regulated in the oil section – for MA 2017.
Ian Henderson
[email protected]
Agricultural Section at the Goetheanum
“The Biodynamic preparations in context: Individual
approaches to preparation work. Case studies of
worldwide practice”
This report is the result of the research project of the Section for
Agriculture on preparation making worldwide that was carried out
from autumn 2013 till July 2016. We have completed the research
work now, but this project can only reach its social aims for the
biodynamic movement and fructify preparation work if the results are
widely shared and worked with. Therefore we would like to ask you
to participate in this next phase of the project, by spreading the
report among your network and by using it in your own work.
The report is available on our website www.sektionlandwirtschaft.org for download. You can upload or link it into your
website. We feel printed copies are very useful so that the report can
be used more conveniently for reference and discussion. You can
order printed copies from us (we ask for a donation to cover printing
and postage costs, which are 45 CHF per copy) or you can print
copies yourself locally – for this please ask us for a high-resolution
print version of the report.
The report can be used in many ways; to inspire the individual
reader, check details, compare practices, but also to work in
preparation groups and conferences with its contents and with its
methodological approach.
At the Section, we feel this
report marks an important
step in the way how we deal
with the preparations, since
it sets an example of
openness and tolerance,
while at the same time
aiming at furthering each
individual's
path
of
deepening their personal
connection
with
the
preparations.
Thank you for your help in
sowing this report within the
biodynamic
community,
helping us to strengthen our
common intentions and our common work.
Ambra Sedlmayr and Ueli Hurter
[email protected]
Creating fertile soil – from nature to culture
International Agricultural Conference of the Section for
Agriculture
1st to 4th February 2017 – Goetheanum, Dornach (near Basel, CH)
Simultaneous translation into German, English, French, Spanish and
Italian.
For thousands of years fertile soil has been the key factor
underpinning cultural development. Our civilisation however is
presently causing a massive loss of fertile soil through erosion,
pollution and urbanisation. How can we care for the soils in a way
that ensures their fertility is maintained and enhanced for
generations?
The soil is the sensitive transition zone between the sphere of light
above the earth and that of darkness below. The practical farmer
knows that the actual processes going on in the soil are specific to
each individual place and moment in time.
An essential element of biodynamic agriculture is the creation of a
farm organism. The farm animals within it provide the plant
population with the fertilisation it requires. Through their growth and
development the plants then enliven the soil. How can I put this
comprehensive approach into practice on my farm?
Providing inspiration to meet the cultural challenge of developing soil
fertility with understanding, joy and courage, is the task of this
conference.
The conference is open to all. Registration from mid- November
onwards.
Further information:
www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org
First conference for organic agriculture in China
Intensive Study Week
“From burning issue to beacon of light” - Intensive study week for
those carrying responsibility in the Biodynamic movement, from 8 –
13 January 2017 at the Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum in
Dornach (Switzerland).
The Intensive study week is a workshop for people who are active in
the organic or the biodynamic movement and who want to take a
new creative step in the development their farm, organisation or
enterprise. Each participant will have the opportunity to work with his
own burning issue – his own question arising from the work on a
farm, association or enterprise - intensively. In a guided process, that
uses dialogue and artistic methods each participant works on
transforming his burning issue in such a way that something new can
come into being.
A beacon of light is created, new power of initiative is found. In-depth
contributions out of anthroposophy on the method and on topical
issues complement the work and provide impulses for it.
The number of participants is limited to 25 to enable intensive
exchange and cooperation. The study week is held in both the
English and German languages.
For further information and to register, please contact:
[email protected]
Reports from Member Countries
Biodynamic farming and product quality – an internet blog
from the USA shows what information on Biodynamics is being
spread:
http://livingmaxwell.com/what-is-biodynamic-why-tastes-sogood#more-11314
and the Journal of Wine Economics confirms it with this article:
Are Biodynamic Wines Better?
Evidently some of the top wine publications in America think so! In
the most comprehensive and quantitative study of its kind, the
American Journal of Wine Economics analysed the professional
ratings of 74,148 California wines produced by almost 4,000 wineries
to ascertain whether "eco-certified" products are actually better than
their conventional counterparts. Gathering data from 3 influential
wine publications- the Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, and Wine
Enthusiast- the study compared wine scores based on blind tastings
and rated on a 100- point scale. The result: eco-certified wine
(Demeter Certified Biodynamic® wine or "made with organic grapes"
wine) scored higher than conventional wines.
"Our results indicate that the adoption of wine eco-certification has a
significant and positive effect on wine ratings... Being eco-certified
increases the scaled score of the wine by 4.1 points on average."
- Journal of Wine Economics
Demeter USA
Elizabeth Candelario
[email protected]
Reports
IFOAM Asia and the authorities of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong
Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province in the south of China,
conducted the first Chinese conference in organic cultivation on 1112th August. Together with the Vice Governor and members of the
Prefecture, a small group was invited to visit, the numerous organic
farms. Large areas of blueberries, tea and rice are now cultivated
organically. The authorities specifically support the further growth of
organic farming.
On the steep slopes there are many terraces with rice cultivation.
The terraces are some 2,000 years old. The landscape in this
prefecture is beautiful with many mountains. Over 70% of the area
consists of forest.
In the population of 4.7 million inhabitants there are 32 minority
groups supported by the authorities. Their traditions are cultivated in
different villages.
800 participants came from many parts of China to participate in the
conference, which was initiated by Governor. Thomas Lüthi offered a
contribution on Biodynamic agriculture and also held a discussion
with the Governor.
Thomas Lüthi
[email protected]
Report from the Raw Materials Manager
"The availability of Demeter pulses in Europe has partially been
improved in the last few weeks thanks to new certified farms
experienced in these kinds of crops.
During the next coming months, focus will definitively be on cosmetic
raw materials, as requests are still increasing in several countries. I
kindly invite certified farms, applicants, but also traders capable to
produce/supply cosmetic raw materials to contact me."
Aurélie Truffat
[email protected]
Trauger Groth passes away
On Wednesday 27th July 2016 Trauger Groh died at Temple-Wilton
Community Farm in New Hampshire
The following Saturday, the day oft eh funeral a memorial service
was held at Buschberghof, together with his four daughters,
colleagues and companions.
Trauger was a Pioneer of the Biodynamic movement in North
Germany and a guiding light in his social, economic and agricultural
ideas. He was the co-founder of Buschberghof, the first farm in the
sponsorship of a non-profit agricultural research company.
In the USA Temple-Wilton Community Farm was founded on
Trauger’s initiative, one of the first CSA enterprises.
From there the idea of an agriculture supported by the community
surrounding it has spread out around the world.
Wolfgang Stränz, Buschberghof
[email protected]
Biodynamic research
In the attachment you find the fourth newsletter “BIODYNAMIC
RESEARCH” which informs you about current publications. Former
issues are available on the homepage of Forschungsring e. V.
(http://www.forschungsring.de/wissensaustausch/).
If you have any publications concerning Biodynamic research that
you would like to distribute via the newsletter please send them to
Ramona Greiner
[email protected]
Positions on BD farms in South Africa
Biodynamic workshop in Tunisia
There are many farms wanting to become Demeter certified and
advertising for farm managers, but they all go unanswered because
there are so few trained Biodynamic farmers in South Africa (the
apprenticeship programme is still very new).
There must be trained BD farmers out there who would love the
challenge of working in our country and it would be so good for us as
well, to have more knowledgeable people here. Please make contact
if you can help!
Wendy Lilje
[email protected]
Mother-bonded dam rearing on Dutch Demeter farms?
The aim of this study was to investigate the current rearing methods,
(dis)advantages of dam rearing systems, and a future vision on this
topic for Stichting Demeter according to all Demeter dairy farmers.
Based on this information a possible support base for motherbonded dam rearing among Demeter farmers could be identified.
The full study is attached.
Margret Wenker
MSc Animal Sciences – Wageningen University
Commissioned by: Stichting Demeter Nederland
On the 4th October 2016 a workshop was held at El Hamma in
Tunisia on the initiative of Klaus Merckens. It was hosted by the
Demeter project “Biolife” with financial support of the German
wholesaler Weiling together with the “sequa” und “developpp”
organisations.
The event was a complete success. The 35 participants had
backgrounds in agriculture, administration and inspection bodies.
As a group they prepared the chamomile preparation, along with the
horn manure prep and the cow pat pit, exchanged experiences about
composting and discussed the steps in conversion. Next spring it will
be the turn of the yarrow and nettle preparations as well as horn
silica. The working group aims to produce all preparations in future in
Tunisia. A full report (in French) is attached
Klaus Merckens
[email protected]
Miscellaneous
Why cows have horns – a new brochure from FIBL.
Link for downloading in German, English and French:
https://shop.fibl.org/en/article/c/cattle/p/1662-kuhhorn.html
Plant varieties as a public good
As part of a 2-day workshop from 26 to 28 July at Hofgut
Rengoldshausen 20 people from India, the USA, Venezuela, the
Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany met to discuss seed
ownership. Andrew Still and Jack Kloppenburg reported on the Open
Source promise (termed the "Pledge" in the USA), for the supply of
seed. This agreement expressly allows third parties to not only sow
the seed, but also to multiply it and use the plants in breeding
programmes. A condition linked to this freedom of use is that the
seeds resulting from the work will be distributed also under the
Pledge ... the principle would then spread in a "viral" way! Ana
Felicien from the Venezuelan Research Institute (Instituto
Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas) reported that in
Venezuela new seed legislation was adopted on 23 December 2015,
which prohibits both GM seeds and patents on life. This extremely
liberal view is planned to be extended by a state-recognised open
source license. For Europe, ideas and concepts for an open source
license there were presented and discussed; an important step given
today’s patenting practice and the urgent need for alternatives and
"protected spaces".
Kulture Saatgut newsletter
[email protected]
www.kultursaat.org
Ambootia Super Speciality Tea won 1st prize at the Gold
Medal Tea Competition
Again this year, Ambootia Super Speciality Tea won 1st prize at the
Gold Medal Tea Competition held during the North American Tea
Conference 2016 organized by the U.S. Tea Association. It is
extremely encouraging for all the people of the Ambootia Family to
be able to bring the intrinsic flavour of High Quality Super Speciality
Teas to discerning consumers.
Krishnendu Chatterjee, Vice President,
Ambootia Tea Group
[email protected]
Dates/events/courses
ELIANT Conference on 7th November in Brussels:
'Freedom of Choice Under Threat: What Can European
Citizens Do?
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebSbn-k70ACzSAT_XV8vfmKQqf_59mTOK2gaJ7ciIA1MDeA/viewform?c=0&w=1
VI Southern Biodynamic Viti/Vini culture Meeting
ODFJELL Vineyards – CHILE – November 17th to 19th,
2016
chance to get to know the Chilean and Argentinean Winemaking
reality. For this reason the invitation is international and the
conference will hopefully have simultaneous translation English –
Spanish.
Key speakers are Christoph Simpfendörfer and Georg Meissner with
the programme covering Biodynamic principles and practice from
various angles particularly as they relate to southern hemisphere
viticulture
[email protected]
Reminder
Biodynamic Fruit Growing Conference 2016
On 24th – 25th of November 2016 an international conference on
Biodynamic arboriculture will take place at the Goetheanum in
Dornach, CH. This conference is organised by the Section for
Agriculture at the Goetheanum and aims to support growers of
perennial crops such as fruits, nuts, olives, vines and soft fruit in
working with the Biodynamic approach. (German/English/French
translations). Further information from
http://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/events/biodynamic-fruitgrowing-conference/ or contact the
Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum:
[email protected]
“Consolidating the Biodynamic identity”
For some wineries from Europe, also from New Zealand or South
Africa it could be a good opportunity to join us and to have the
Attachments:
 Biodynamic Research 2016_4 (from the Forschungsring, English and German)
 First Tunisian BD Workshop (in French)
 Mother-bonded dam rearing on Dutch Demeter farms?
Section for Agriculture
Ueli Hurter, Jean-Michel Florin, Thomas Lüthi
ph: +41 61706 4212 [email protected], skype: ueli.hurter, skype: jeanmichelflorin,
skype: Thomas.luthi1
International Biodynamic Association IBDA
Ueli Hurter, Therese Jung
ph: +41 61706 4212 [email protected] skype: ueli.hurter
Demeter International
General Secretary
Christoph Simpfendörfer
ph: +49 711 87874398
[email protected]
skype: christoph.simpfendoerfer
Certification
Cornelia Hauenschild
ph: +45 874269 90
[email protected]
skype: hauenschildsingapore
New Projects
Ute Bucholski
ph: +49 6155 8469 99
[email protected]
skype: utebucholski
Accreditation Council
Reto Ingold
ph: +41 61 7 03 11 88
[email protected]
skype: r.ingold
Raw Materials Co-ordinator
Aurelie Truffat
ph: +33 450 357 440
[email protected]
skype: truffat.demeter
Standards & Newsletter
Ian Henderson
ph +64 4143 712
[email protected]
skype: hendersonian
International Communication
Anette Jorry
ph: +49 6155 8469 81
[email protected]
skype: anette.jorry
Office Brussels
Dr. Andreas Biesantz
ph: +32 26 462 117
[email protected]
skype: biesantz
Published by Demeter International e.V. Editor Ian Henderson (English version), Anette Jorry (German translation)