Under the guiding principle ‘Working with the intelligence of life’ and with a particular focus on the microbiome, the upcoming Agriculture Conference from 3 to 6 February 2027 will explore our relationship with the ethereal forces and practical ways of working with them. You are warmly invited to submit a proposal for a working group by 31 August. We look forward to your ideas!

Submit a workshop proposal now

Working with the Intelligence of Life

In the past two Agriculture Conferences, we have dedicated ourselves to the understanding of life and the life processes (2025), as well as to the social and community-building aspects of biodynamics (2026).

At the upcoming Agriculture Conference 2027, we now seek to broaden our understanding of community by exploring the relationships we enter into with the intelligent forces of life that surround us and are present in our work with the earth. How can we perceive these forces of life—the etheric or formative forces—and how do we work with them in agriculture, nutrition, and therapeutic farming?

Microbiome Research as a Bridge to the Etheric

In recent years, advances in microbiome research have reshaped the scientific understanding of life. The classical view of living beings as separate entities is now being replaced by an integrative biology that understands life as networks of dynamic relationships connecting soil, plants, animals, humans, and ecosystems. The components of the agricultural organism—starting from the soil biome all the way to the digestive microbiome in humans and animals—are understood as deeply interconnected. They communicate and regulate one another in complex and adaptive ways through the involved microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Microbiome research gives rise to an image of living beings that are internally and externally engaged in rhythmic relationships, on microcosmic and macrocosmic levels. With such an integrative perspective, microbiome science can serve as a bridge to our biodynamic methods and to our work with the etheric realm: Our understanding of life resonates with the scientific insights from emerging microbiome research.

The Question of Inquiry

The evolving understanding of the interconnectedness of life leads us to a deeper question: what is the appropriate way of inquiry when working with etheric and formative forces? In biodynamics, different approaches come together: scientific methodology, spiritual-scientific work, Goetheanistic and meditative training of our human perception, and ultimately, practical activity on the farm itself, from which an experience-based intuition can emerge.

Together, these approaches aim not only to explain what is life, but to perceive it—beyond the purely intellectual—as a living reality in its own right. At the upcoming Agriculture Conference, we want to explore this question further: can a more expansive approach to engaging with the etheric emerge—one that includes the human capacity for intuitive, living perception? In the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “One sees clearly only with the heart”?

Working with Life as an Art

The vast array of biodynamic methods enables us to consciously participate in shaping life’s processes—stimulating, regulating, rhythmizing, healing, and vitalizing them, for example through the use of preparations and by working along the rhythms of nature and the cosmos. Biodynamics is not merely the application of knowledge and technique: it becomes an art of co-creation with the intelligent forces of life. Those who work with the etheric do not encounter an object, but find themselves within living relationships. A dialogical way of working emerges: perceiving, responding, co-creating. Agriculture becomes an art—an art of co-creation within the relationships of life. This leads us to further questions for the upcoming conference: in what ways can we work with the intelligence of life? Which advanced methods allow us to guide and synchronize processes, rhythms, and relationships? How can we engage co-creatively with etheric processes in ways that support and foster life on multiple levels?

Propose a Workshop

Alongside an intellectual approach to the realm of etheric and formative forces, it can be essential to engage with them through artistic and meditative practices. In this way, they become more experienceable, and one’s capacity for perception in this field can deepen and become more refined. All workshops are therefore invited to include practical exercises—for example in eurythmy, meditation, music, speech, painting, phenomenology, or perceptual training.

Workshops in the Mornings

4, 5 and 6 February 2027, 10:45 to 12:30

The three-day morning workshops are dedicated to the conference theme. They are intended to bring participants together around a central question that clearly relates to the theme and guiding ideas of the conference. We invite you to formulate the title of your workshop as a question—one that encourages shared inquiry, exchange, and the integration of different perspectives. The topic should be relevant to a broad range of the biodynamic movement and lead to practical insights that participants can apply in their own work. Morning workshops are usually led by two facilitators and are expected to be bilingual.

Workshops in the Afternoons

4 and 5 February 2027, 14:00 to 15:30

The two-day afternoon workshops on Thursday and Friday are open in theme. They are intended as a space for participants to work together on a specific topic that does not need to relate tot he Conference theme. Afternoon workshops are usually led by two facilitators and may be bilingual.

Preparation with Participants

Starting with the upcoming Agriculture Conference, participants and workshop leaders will have the opportunity to connect in advance of the conference—to prepare their joint work, exchange ideas, and share materials. This will be made possible through the “Biodynamic Network,” where each workshop can have its own online forum. This is made available from October 2026 onward.

• Workshop leaders and participants can freely register on the Biodynamic Network.
• The conference programme will include a link to each workshop’s forum, allowing interested participants to join.
• All conference participants are free to join any forum or change between them—just as they can freely choose between workshops.
• Responsibility for the content lies with the workshop leaders, who initiate the discussions and moderate the conversations to ensure an open and respectful atmosphere.
• Participation in the forum must not be a prerequisite for attending a workshop and should not disadvantage those who only take part in the on-site sessions at the Goetheanum.
• The forum will remain active after the conference, enabling the exchange to continue.

If you would like to make use of the forum option, you can indicate this when submitting your proposal. We will set up the forum for you in October 2026.

Michael Letter and Leading Thoughts

The current annual theme includes the following Michael Letter: “The Future of Humanity and the Activity of Michael,” along with its three leading thoughts. From: Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts (GA 26).

Support

The Section can support workshop leaders as follows:

• Free conference tickets including lunch, coffee breaks, and the festive evening for the two main workshop leaders, as well as reduced tickets for all additional workshop leaders
• Travel support up to CHF 150 for workshop leaders traveling within Europe
• Travel support up to CHF 300 for workshop leaders arriving from outside Europe
• Invitation letters to support Schengen visa applications

Dates and Deadlines

Agriculture Conference: 3–6 February 2027, at the Goetheanum

Submission deadline for proposals: 31 August 2026

Selection of proposals: September–October 2026

Please submit proposals for workshops by 31 August 2026 at:
agriculture-conference.org/call

Register a Professional Group

Before the Agriculture Conference, a pre-conference for professional and vocational groups will take place on 2 February 2027. Interested groups are warmly invited to register their meetings and to submit a title and a short description. These will be published together with the conference programme. On the evening of 2 February, a tasting event will once again be held in the Schreinerei Hall.

Professional Groups

A number of seminar rooms at the Goetheanum are available for the internal meetings of the different professional groups. These will be provided free of charge for the entire day on 2 February 2027. Please note that no organized catering or coffee breaks will be offered on this day. Participants are warmly invited to make use of the café in the Wandelhalle.

Participant registration takes place via Pretix, together with the conference registration, and is free of charge. It is also possible to register for professional groups only, without attending the conference.

Each professional group needs a responsible contact person who will:

• coordinate with the Section to oversee registrations
• review expressions of interest from external participants and accept or decline them
• submit a title, description, and an agenda of the group’s meeting
• serve as the main point of contact for participants’ questions

Dates and Deadlines

Meeting of professional and vocational groups: 2 February 2027, at the Goetheanum

Tasting evening: 2 February 2027, 19:00, in the Schreinerei Hall

Deadline for registering professional groups: 31 December 2026

Please register your professional or vocational group by 31 December 2026 at:
agriculture-conference.org/call