Johannes Kronenberg, one of the two editors alongside Edith Lammerts van Bueren, talks to Andrea de la Cruz about the book "On the Earth We Want to Live", recently published by Springer Nature Publishing, one of the largest scientific publishers.
This freely accessible book examines the contribution of anthroposophy to sustainable development, thereby closing an important research gap. It sheds light on the anthroposophical worldview and offers a holistic perspective on the relationship between humanity and the Earth. By examining its philosophical foundations, this book illuminates how anthroposophy understands the sustainable development of humanity and the environment.
A central focus is on the resilience and impact of 27 pioneering organisations that apply anthroposophical principles in their work. These include multinational companies such as Weleda, banks such as Freie Gemeinschaftsbank, and manufacturers such as Sonett, Voelkel and Stockmar. Organisations such as SEKEM in Egypt, Monte Azul in Brazil and grassroots initiatives such as Kufunda Learning Village in Zimbabwe, which have been awarded the UNEP Champion of the Earth 2024 prize, are also featured and showcase remarkable practices in the field of sustainable development. Some of these institutions have been shaping the field for more than a century and are pioneers in their respective fields. Another main section deals with perspectives from biodynamic agriculture – as the first method of organic farming and its Demeter certification standard – 100 years of socio-ecologically oriented Waldorf education and the search for an associative economy inspired by anthroposophy.
This book concludes with an expansion of the definition of sustainable development from an anthroposophical perspective, taking into account both its principles and practical applications. It is a valuable resource for professionals, researchers, students, and educators interested in early and current contributions to sustainable development, as well as best practices that can be integrated into academic curricula and professional practice.
The Section for Agriculture and Springer Nature publishing house worked with 75 co-authors to make this effort possible.
