The Challenge of Biodynamics

By Brenda Frick, Ph.D.

Biodynamic farming challenges scientists and farmers alike. Scientifically credible studies indicate that biodynamic systems have merit in terms of soil quality, ecological impact, and economics, relative to comparable conventional systems. Yet biodynamic understandings are in a different realm than those of traditional scientists.

Biodynamic farming began with a series of lectures by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920's. His teachings include both philosophical and practical aspects. Neither has been become mainstream, but there are biodynamic farmers and farm associations throughout Europe and around the world.

Biodynamic is a word that combines both biological and dynamic. The biological component includes many of the principles of organic agriculture: a focus on soil, including biodiversity and rotations for fertility and to keep "pests" in balance, nonuse of synthetic chemicals (and more recently nonuse of genetically engineered organisms). Steiner's "spiritual science" adds the dynamic component and considers the role of ethereal and cosmic forces on the individuality of the farm.

Steiner understood the farm as a living entity and the farmer through his or her toil, intent and conscious feeling, as a motivating, even healing part of that being. Some of Steiner's teachings resonate with accepted scientific concepts, such as the "agroecosystem", while others, particularly those involving planetary alignment and cosmic beings are from a different way of understanding.

In practice, biodynamics differs from most organic farming in the use of 9 preparations applied to the soil, the plants or to manure composts. Typically, biodynamic farms include cattle; many are dairy and vegetable operations. Manure is an important aspect of fertility and of the biodynamic preparations. The first two biodynamic preparations are aged in a cow's horn - manure fermented in the horn over winter, and applied to the soil in spring, or silica fermented in the horn over summer and applied to the crop plants. A further 6 preparations are made from yarrow, chamomile, dandelion or valerian flowers; stinging nettle; or oak bark. These are applied to the compost pile. A preparation of horsetail is applied to plants for disease control.

Biodynamic preparations are made in a very precise way, diluted to extremely low concentrations, and activated or energized with particular forms of stirring. Recipes, products and directions for their use make the technologies readily available.

Steiner's teachings also include an entire philosophical framework - anthroposophy. These holistic teachings are linked to alternative medical treatments such as homeopathy and eurhythmy and to alternative education as embodied in the Waldorf schools. They call for an inner transformation that is hard for people outside the transformation to fully understand. In many ways, anthroposophy is a different paradigm, or way of understanding, than the science that we value so highly in our society. Science values physical, material explanations, while anthroposophy considers that materialism gets in the way of spirituality.

Some biodynamic practitioners are well versed in anthroposophy, and consider this an essential attitude for healing the earth and moving the farm "individuality" to health. Some are less convinced by the philosophy, but follow the techniques none-the-less. These people feel that many of Steiner's broad themes are reasonable, even while they question the details of his explanations.

In New Zealand, researchers studied biodynamic and comparable conventional farms. They found that "biodynamic farms proved in most enterprises to have soils of higher biological and physical quality: significantly greater organic matter content and microbial activity, more earthworms, better soil structure, lower bulk density, easier penetrability, and thicker topsoil. … the biodynamic farms were just as often financially viable as their neighboring conventional farms."¹

In Switzerland, researchers compared biodynamic and organic systems to two types of conventional systems. They also found greater soil fertility and biodiversity on the biodynamic and organic plots than they found on conventional plots. The biodynamic system had greater microbial biomass, diversity and activity, than the organic system, which had greater microbial values than the conventional system. The authors suggested that this microbial activity would improve phosphorus uptake, nitrogen use and plant productivity.²

These studies clearly show that biodynamic systems can have soil benefits. Whether biodynamic preparations provide essential nutrients that foster the growth of beneficial microbes, or if they help the spirituality of the farm connect with cosmic forces, the techniques appears well worth further study. For scientists, perhaps the challenge lies in not rejecting techniques because they are explained in a way that does not fit our understanding.

The Organic Connections conference in Saskatoon, Nov 14-16 will include a workshop on biodynamic farming where these ideas will be discussed further.

Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag., is the Prairie Coordinator for the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at the College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan. She welcomes your comments at 306-966-4975 or via email at brenda.frick@usask.ca .

For information about the Organic Connections conference, see www.organicconnections.ca

References:
¹Reganold, J.P., A.S. Palmer, J.C. Lockhart and A.N. Macgregor. 1993. Soil Quality and Financial Performance of Biodynamic and Conventional Farms in New Zealand. Science 260: 344-349

²Mäder, P, A. Fliebach, D. Dubois, L. Gunst, P. Fried, U. Niggli. 2002. Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming. Science 296: 1694

Divers, S. 1999. Biodynamic Farming & Compost Preparation. Alternative Farming Systems Guide. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/biodynamic.html

Raupp, J. 1999. Biodynamic Approaches in Research and Development. Research methodologies in organic farming. REU Technical Series No. 58 http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X6089E/x6089e08.htm

Goode, J. n.d. Part 8: Bringing together biodynamics and science. Biodynamic Wine. The Wine Anorak, online wine magazine. http://www.wineanorak.com/biodynamic8.htm

This article first appeared in The Western Producer, and is published here on the OACC website with permission.


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Research Extension Courses Consumers -------------------------- Virtual Farm Tours Student & Job Opportunities News Articles Links Standards -------------------------- Market Information Events Issues Animal Welfare Strategic Plans -------------------------- Award-winners Kids Stuff Rural Culture Discussion Forum Classified Ads Weather Site Map	The Challenge of Biodynamics By Brenda Frick, Ph.D. Biodynamic farming challenges scientists and farmers alike. Scientifically credible studies indicate that biodynamic systems have merit in terms of soil quality, ecological impact, and economics, relative to comparable conventional systems. Yet biodynamic understandings are in a different realm than those of traditional scientists. Biodynamic farming began with a series of lectures by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920's. His teachings include both philosophical and practical aspects. Neither has been become mainstream, but there are biodynamic farmers and farm associations throughout Europe and around the world. Biodynamic is a word that combines both biological and dynamic. The biological component includes many of the principles of organic agriculture: a focus on soil, including biodiversity and rotations for fertility and to keep "pests" in balance, nonuse of synthetic chemicals (and more recently nonuse of genetically engineered organisms). Steiner's "spiritual science" adds the dynamic component and considers the role of ethereal and cosmic forces on the individuality of the farm. Steiner understood the farm as a living entity and the farmer through his or her toil, intent and conscious feeling, as a motivating, even healing part of that being. Some of Steiner's teachings resonate with accepted scientific concepts, such as the "agroecosystem", while others, particularly those involving planetary alignment and cosmic beings are from a different way of understanding. In practice, biodynamics differs from most organic farming in the use of 9 preparations applied to the soil, the plants or to manure composts. Typically, biodynamic farms include cattle; many are dairy and vegetable operations. Manure is an important aspect of fertility and of the biodynamic preparations. The first two biodynamic preparations are aged in a cow's horn - manure fermented in the horn over winter, and applied to the soil in spring, or silica fermented in the horn over summer and applied to the crop plants. A further 6 preparations are made from yarrow, chamomile, dandelion or valerian flowers; stinging nettle; or oak bark. These are applied to the compost pile. A preparation of horsetail is applied to plants for disease control. Biodynamic preparations are made in a very precise way, diluted to extremely low concentrations, and activated or energized with particular forms of stirring. Recipes, products and directions for their use make the technologies readily available. Steiner's teachings also include an entire philosophical framework - anthroposophy. These holistic teachings are linked to alternative medical treatments such as homeopathy and eurhythmy and to alternative education as embodied in the Waldorf schools. They call for an inner transformation that is hard for people outside the transformation to fully understand. In many ways, anthroposophy is a different paradigm, or way of understanding, than the science that we value so highly in our society. Science values physical, material explanations, while anthroposophy considers that materialism gets in the way of spirituality. Some biodynamic practitioners are well versed in anthroposophy, and consider this an essential attitude for healing the earth and moving the farm "individuality" to health. Some are less convinced by the philosophy, but follow the techniques none-the-less. These people feel that many of Steiner's broad themes are reasonable, even while they question the details of his explanations. In New Zealand, researchers studied biodynamic and comparable conventional farms. They found that "biodynamic farms proved in most enterprises to have soils of higher biological and physical quality: significantly greater organic matter content and microbial activity, more earthworms, better soil structure, lower bulk density, easier penetrability, and thicker topsoil. … the biodynamic farms were just as often financially viable as their neighboring conventional farms."¹ In Switzerland, researchers compared biodynamic and organic systems to two types of conventional systems. They also found greater soil fertility and biodiversity on the biodynamic and organic plots than they found on conventional plots. The biodynamic system had greater microbial biomass, diversity and activity, than the organic system, which had greater microbial values than the conventional system. The authors suggested that this microbial activity would improve phosphorus uptake, nitrogen use and plant productivity.² These studies clearly show that biodynamic systems can have soil benefits. Whether biodynamic preparations provide essential nutrients that foster the growth of beneficial microbes, or if they help the spirituality of the farm connect with cosmic forces, the techniques appears well worth further study. For scientists, perhaps the challenge lies in not rejecting techniques because they are explained in a way that does not fit our understanding. The Organic Connections conference in Saskatoon, Nov 14-16 will include a workshop on biodynamic farming where these ideas will be discussed further. Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag., is the Prairie Coordinator for the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at the College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan. She welcomes your comments at 306-966-4975 or via email at brenda.frick@usask.ca . For information about the Organic Connections conference, see www.organicconnections.ca References: ¹Reganold, J.P., A.S. Palmer, J.C. Lockhart and A.N. Macgregor. 1993. Soil Quality and Financial Performance of Biodynamic and Conventional Farms in New Zealand. Science 260: 344-349 ²Mäder, P, A. Fliebach, D. Dubois, L. Gunst, P. Fried, U. Niggli. 2002. Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming. Science 296: 1694 Divers, S. 1999. Biodynamic Farming & Compost Preparation. Alternative Farming Systems Guide. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/biodynamic.html Raupp, J. 1999. Biodynamic Approaches in Research and Development. Research methodologies in organic farming. REU Technical Series No. 58 http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X6089E/x6089e08.htm Goode, J. n.d. Part 8: Bringing together biodynamics and science. Biodynamic Wine. The Wine Anorak, online wine magazine. http://www.wineanorak.com/biodynamic8.htm This article first appeared in The Western Producer, and is published here on the OACC website with permission.
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The Challenge of Biodynamics

By Brenda Frick, Ph.D.

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