Demeter: What does biodynamic mean?
What does biodynamic mean?
The essence of biodynamic farming is a living, circular economy: producing in harmony with nature. The farm is viewed as a whole, a unique, living organism in which each organ needs the other. In concrete terms, this means that humans, plants, animals, and soil work together.
Demeter farmers only keep as many animals as they can actually feed with their own land. The animals' manure is used to fertilize the fields, thereby achieving sustainable soil fertility and building and maintaining a nutrient-rich humus layer (which acts as a CO2 store and thus a true climate protector!). Healthy soils produce vital plants, which in turn serve as valuable food for animals and humans.
What is the difference between organic and Demeter?
First of all: Demeter guidelines are far above the standard of the state organic seal.
In other words: The state-certified organic seal merely specifies the minimum standards for organically produced food. Demeter has been an organic pioneer since 1924, with standards that far exceed the EU organic standard, making it the quality leader in the field of organically produced food.
Another advantage: biodynamic farming not only benefits the food, but also the environment. Independent research has shown that biodynamic agriculture has a positive effect on the top layer of the soil, the humus, which continuously grows. This is an important factor in times of climate change, as hummus has the ability to bind large amounts of CO2, which in turn counteracts the greenhouse effect. Thus, hummus not only provides plants with important nutrients but is also a true climate protector!
Our raw materials, namely the herbs and honey, are produced in Germany and Austria under Demeter standards. Short value chains, small family farms, close to the producers, and ecologically sustainable farming practices across the board.
Demeter - fertile soils as a basis
The soil is the foundation of our food. Farmers who have committed themselves to biodynamic farming consciously avoid synthetic chemical pesticides and genetic engineering. These have no place on Demeter fields. Instead, biodynamic preparations made from herbs, minerals, and cow manure, as well as seed-saving varieties, are used. Organic fertilizers provide plants with an optimal source of nutrients and sustainably build comprehensive soil fertility.
To allow the soil to recover and avoid excessive strain, Demeter farmers rely on a wide crop rotation, meaning they rotate the plant varieties in the fields over the years. These are all measures that promote diverse, fertile soil life, producing food rich in flavor and vitality. Because only in living soil can our food thrive and grow optimally.
