Farming for People and the Planet

Feeling the Joy of Biodynamic Farming

Our ‘Feel the Joy’ Communication Campaign highlights the essence of biodynamic farming, as a holistic, ethical, and ecological approach to farming caring for the people and the planet. Today, biodynamic farming is practiced in over 65 countries, with more than 7,000 farmers stewarding 255,000 hectares of land. Let’s have a look at what it means to practice biodynamic farming! 

Holistic approach 

Biodynamic farming is a wholistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming and gardening. It is the world’s oldest organic farming system and one of the most sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices of today.   

Going beyond the organic standard, through wholistic management practices biodynamic farming focuses on reinforcing the interaction between soil, plants, animals, and humans in an environmentally friendly and regenerative way. In this way biodynamic farming produces nutritious, high-quality food while safeguarding the environment for future generations. By prioritising soil health, biodiversity, and resilience, biodynamic farmers build a balanced ecosystem that benefits both the land and the people.   

Biodynamic farming is managed without any chemical fertilisers and pesticides, using minimal external inputs, sourcing them through collaboration with other biodynamic farmers when necessary. It is the wholistic nature of biodynamic farming that makes it truly regenerative and resilient: the care for the soil, the integration of animals, the use of diverse and regionally adapted seeds, and the recognition of the farm as a whole, interconnected being. By focusing on regeneration and resilience over yield alone, biodynamic farmers give back more to the land than they take from it. In this way, biodynamic farmers are practicing truly sustainable and regenerative farming.  

© Biodynamic Federation Demeter International e.V.

The farm as living organism  

At the heart of biodynamic farming is the principle of working in harmony with nature, recognising that everything in nature is mutually connected and interacting. Biodynamic farming views each farm as a unique, living ‘farm organism’ – where soil, plants, animals, and people work in harmony to create a thriving ecosystem that generates what it needs from within. It’s not only about production – it’s about nurturing the land, plants, animals, and people in a way that fosters long-term sustainability, regeneration, and a deeper connection to nature’s rhythms.  

In biodynamic farming, each farm or garden is viewed as a unified, living whole. Just like a human being, the biodynamic farm consists of several interdependent organs and systems, such as soil, plants, animals, and people. When these elements are thoughtfully managed and brought into a balanced relationship, they work together dynamically, enhancing each other along with the vitality and overall health of the entire farm system. Through this understanding, each part of the farm is brought into harmony with the whole, allowing the farm organism to thrive as a resilient and living system.   

Diversity is key to resilience and sustainability, and biodynamic farmers strive to integrate a rich mix of microorganisms, wild and cultivated plants, domestic and wild animals, and more into their farms. This wholistic integration is at the heart of what makes a biodynamic farm resilient and alive.  

“Biodynamic farming views the farm as an integrated whole consisting of plants, animals, human beings, the atmosphere, the spirit of the place, and even the intention of the grower. To work biodynamically means to dynamically balance all the elements together.”

– Chik Ying Chai 

The farm individuality  

Much like a human being, each biodynamic farm is viewed as having its own distinct personality and character, shaped by its landscape, history, and the people who care for it. This unique, wholistic expression of the farm’s full potential is referred to as the ‘farm individuality’ in biodynamic farming.   

The farm individuality encompasses everything that shapes the character and identity of the farm – including specific soil types and characteristics, the presence of forests, meadows, and wetlands, the plants and animals, the buildings and tools, and the people who live and work there. It also includes the farm’s history, purpose, and the more subtle energetic qualities of its landscape – referred to as ‘terroir’ in winemaking.   

Many Demeter farms go beyond farming to become centers of community – integrating people with disabilities, serving as educational farms, or acting as cultural spaces. Social interaction is an integral part of the farm individuality, allowing the farm to share its vitality and health with the wider community.