Insights into the worldwide biodynamic movement. ‘Living Farms’: a new magazine marks the centenary of biodynamics

Created by Anna Storchenegger | |   Press
Many people are familiar with Demeter as a brand name but they don’t necessarily know what it stands for. A new magazine – ‘Living Farms’ – published by the Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum illustrates the Demeter principles and how they are applied around the world.

Nutrient-rich soil, healthy food, biodiversity, species diversity, animal welfare and social supply chains are the hallmarks of biodynamic farming. But how is all this achieved? Biodynamics endeavours to work in harmony with the cosmos, nature and human beings whilst considering their contexts and interactions. It brings natural sciences and spiritual science together. In 1924, for instance, when farmers in need asked Rudolf Steiner for his advice, he introduced the concept of individuality into agronomy. A novelty! The concept of the ‘agricultural individuality’ led to a new understanding of farming.

Various articles in the first issue of ‘Living Farms’ describe the concrete meaning of this understanding and the corresponding concepts. Over the past hundred years, biodynamic farming has spread around the world. A look at six countries reveals how living conditions have improved as a result of biodynamic farming. Jean-Michel Florin, co-leader of the Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum, says in an interview about the current training courses in Ukraine, “Biodynamic agriculture can ensure that, despite crises and obstacles, future perspectives will always be found.”

There are now an estimated 30,000 biodynamic farms worldwide. Research institutes, training programmes, processing and marketing companies etc. have been established. All this reflects a cultural impulse in agriculture that will be made more visible by the new magazine.

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