Demeter Anniversary
Posted - February 1, 2004
Demeter Celebrates 80th Anniversary:
A Look Back to the First Impulse of the Organic Movement
By O.W.N. News Network - as printed in O.W.N. Spring 2004
The term “organic” has become trendy at different levels of our society. The food scandals, the BSE and GM debates, and evidence that abuse of pesticides in conventional farming, artificial growth hormones as well as antibiotics could affect human health, has attracted more mainstream consumers to the organic sector, becoming the fastest growing segment of the food industry.
But concern for the side effects of industrialized farming was already evident in the 1920s. Experienced farmers noticed then a steady decline in their crops and food quality and where introduced to the principles of biodynamic farming, while seeking advice from Rudolf Steiner (1861 - 1925). He had outlined a philosophy known as anthroposophy and was well known for the unusual working models based on these principles he developed for the medical and educational fields.
In 1924 Steiner offered a series of eight lectures entitled Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture, which provided the first impulse of the organic movement. Labelled in 1928 under the corporate umbrella Demeter, this paradigm materialised in a vibrant and sustainable international project that celebrates this year its 80th anniversary.
In 1931, there were 1,000 biodynamic farms in Germany and processing companies such as Weleda, Dr. Hauschka, Voelkel and Holle were established. And even though today many organic advocates are against the international venue to further expansion, it wasn’t long before Demeter began importing products such as coffee, grown under the biodynamic method at Finca Irlanda in Mexico and the tasty beans from the Sierra Madre that have been treasured by Demeter loyal customers up to this day.
Even though all biodynamic (Demeter) organisations were prohibited in 1941, work at re-establishing the movement began as soon as the Second World War ended. And the farms that had managed to continue operating during the Nazi era founded The Research Circle for Biodynamic Science.
Since its inception, Demeter produce has been available at biodynamic farms and health food stores like Reformhaus that cater to well-informed consumers, who value and respect the environment and are aware of the extensive research that shows the strong relationship between health and food quality.
Today in Germany, there are approximately 1,350 farms covering 50,000 hectares of land under Steiner’s biodynamic method. The conglomerate includes 300 representatives from the complete production and distribution chain. Farmers, transformers, manufacturers, and the health and food wholesale distributors and retail chains such as Reformhaus work in a synchronized system offering a growing variety of quality food and beverages.
The product choice available under the Demeter umbrella extends from daily staples to baby food, wine and crackers, cosmetics and textiles from biodynamic cotton fields, with a turnover estimated in over 220 million Euro (2001).
The brand Demeter is also recognized on all continents. From Argentina to Hungary it has representatives in 35 countries, with over 3,000 farms in nearly 100,000 ha (1/4 mill. acres) certified under Demeter strict standards. Demeter food is processed and packaged by over 400 certified firms that sell it mainly through nearly 200 quality outlets and whole food shops in Germany and other European countries that handle the Demeter trademark
What Distinguishes Demeter ?
Compared to conventional highly industrialized and standard organic farming and production systems, the biodynamic method is the most sustainable of all as numerous independent studies have confirmed over the past 20 years of research. Farms that operate under Demeter biodynamic practices ensure that the fertile humus layer of the soil is maintained and improved. It is distinguished from standard organic farming by the required use of specially designed herbal, mineral and manure preparations that produce homeopathic stimulation on soil fertility and increase plant vitality. Regulations are also generally stricter, with respect to nitrogen fertilization, composting methods, and mineral supplementation. The application of carefully fermented home made preparations to the soil enhances the natural characteristic aroma of the crops.
Farm self-sufficiency is regarded as ideal, particularly with respect to soil fertility, because livestock sustains the fertility cycle. Livestock practices include access to pasture, movement and natural light, reasonable stocking rates and comfortable stalls, but also conditions that promote the animal’s natural behavior. Therefore the animal’s natural body shape is respected (i.e. no de-horning or de-beaking). The guidelines from Demeter follow a basic principle of life, where if livestock and plants are offered quality food and soil conditions, the risk of disease and need of medications is strongly reduced. At Demeter farms growth hormones and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not used. Biodynamic agriculture implies working creatively to keep balance with the ecology. Improvements in soil fertility, management of seed production and crop cultivation, and viewing the farm like a living organism are intrinsic principles. The Demeter farming procedures have been developed to ensure a uniformly high standard of quality across the world. They begin with the acknowledgement of Rudolf Steiner’s ideas and have been continually performed and evaluated over the last 80 years.
Using a unique co-marketing strategy, consumers are guaranteed biodynamic quality through the Demeter certification process, while the independent manufacturing businesses stake their own name on the quality standards of their processing operations. Today biodynamic agriculture has become more widely recognised throughout the world as a sustainable approach that can be adapted to suit many different weather and geographical conditions. It has even brought new fertility to desert regions as shown at the Demeter certified farms Sekem in Egypt, awarded with the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize in December 2003.
