The short video above profiles three U.S. biodynamic farmers who provide ingredients for our line of biodynamic products. The first is Justin Trussoni, president of Season 5 Cooperative in Viroqua, Wisconsin. Trussoni grows biodynamic cannabis and vegetables.
The second was Cecil Wright, a biodynamic maple grower and founder of the Maple Valley Cooperative. The third is Brian Wickert, Vice President of the Fifth Season Co-op. He has been growing biodynamic vegetables and herbs since 1997. Wickert is also the primary formulator of biodynamic soil formulations used by other biodynamic growers.
As my biodynamic brand Solspring Wickert points out,1 Now one of the companies with the largest range of biodynamic products in the world. We offer over 70 Demeter-certified biodynamic pantry staples, from snacks and spreads to coffees and teas, thanks in large part to our partnerships with growers like Wickert, Wright and Trussoni, who put their heart and soul into put into work.
What is biodynamics?
Biodynamic agriculture is a spiritual and ethical ecological farming method, originally proposed by the Austrian scholar Rudolf Steiner.2 Ph.D. (1861-1925). Today it meets not only organic certification standards, but also recycled certification standards.
Biodynamic farming provides superior crops in terms of yield and nutrient density. Biodynamic farms can also be completely self-sustaining – something that is not possible even with most organic farms. For example, biodynamic standards don’t just require farmers to use organic animal feed. Most of the feed actually has to come from the farm itself.
And, while organic farmers can set aside as little as 10% of their farm to grow certified organic products, biodynamic farms must meet 100% biodynamic standards to qualify for certification.
In addition to this, 10% of the land must be dedicated to increasing biodiversity. This could take the form of woodlands, wetlands or insect habitats, for example. Biodynamic agriculture also has all the characteristics associated with regenerative agriculture, such as crop rotation, use of cover crops, etc.
Integrating animals into the farm and focusing on animal welfare is another core principle of biodynamic farming. In short, the farm is seen as a living, self-sustaining whole, of which the biodiversity of flora and fauna is an integral part.
In my opinion, it really couldn’t be better, buying food produced from Demeter biodynamic certified farms gives you the greatest guarantee of food quality and environmental sustainability.
If you’d like a deeper understanding of the biodynamic principles pioneered by Steiner, check out Jonathan Stedel’s documentary “The Challenge of Rudolf Steiner” below. It is also available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
The need for regenerative agriculture has never been greater
Modern chemical agriculture causes the destruction of rural economies, water and air pollution, aquifer depletion, destruction of pollinators and biodiversity, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility, climate instability, food contamination, nutrient degradation and public environmental degradation. healthy.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,3 Six in 10 American adults now live with a chronic disease; four in 10 have two or more, and one of the main causes is malnutrition.
Latest government data4 Supporting this, it is shown that 45% of Americans do not meet their daily requirements for vitamin A, 46% do not get enough vitamin C, 95% do not meet their vitamin D requirements, and 84% do not get enough vitamin E , 15% of people don’t get enough zinc. Any of these flaws could spell trouble. As the author points out:5
“A well-functioning immune system is critical to human health and well-being. Micronutrients such as vitamins A, C, D, E, and zinc serve multiple functions throughout the immune system, yet inadequate nutrient intake is common among Americans.
Numerous studies show that nutritional deficiencies impair immune function and impair immune responses… Dietary supplements can help address deficiencies in these immune-supporting nutrients…
Given the persistence and widening of nutritional gaps in the United States—particularly for key nutrients that support immune health—public health measures should adopt guidelines to ensure adequate intake of these micronutrients. “
Sadly, I don’t think that will happen because even if you consume the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, you still won’t be meeting your nutritional needs for the simple reason that today’s conventionally grown produce contains far less nutrients than conventional grown produce. Their counterparts from 50 years ago.6
The reason is that plants get their nutrients from the soil, and if the soil is depleted of nutrients, so will the content of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Omega-3s, vitamin E, beta-carotene, antioxidants, and conjugates in factory-farmed, genetically modified grain-fed meat, eggs, and dairy products compared to 100% grass-fed and biodynamically raised animal products Contents of linoleic acid (CLA) are usually low.
Research7 It has been consistently shown that organic foods contain significantly higher levels of antioxidants, especially in no-till regenerative systems,8 A diet rich in antioxidants can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, brain disease, and certain cancers.
Again, biodynamic is organic on steroids, so biodynamic foods may be more nutritious than certified organic, mostly because our focus is on optimizing the soil.
A U-turn in agriculture is necessary
Even if you have plenty of land available, food security can no longer be taken for granted, and here’s why:
- Groundwater depletion is accelerating.9
- Water pollution is becoming increasingly serious— Precious water sources are also threatened by contamination from large-scale monocrop farms and concentrated animal feeding operations.10 It is reported11 According to the U.S. Department of Environment, agribusiness is one of the biggest threats to U.S. waterways.
- Soil erosion and degradation are worsening rapidly— Twelve years ago, in 2012, John Crawford, a professor at the University of Sydney, pointed out that 40% of the world’s agricultural soils were classified as degraded or severely degraded.12 Due in large part to traditional farming methods, topsoil is lost 10 to 40 times faster than it can naturally regenerate and replenish.13,14
- Desertification is accelerating—— Land is rapidly turning into desert and we are losing plant and animal biodiversity.
Biodynamic farming is the answer everyone is looking for
The good news is that biodynamic farming solves all of these problems and more. We just need to scale up agriculture to make the transition happen. Our decision to partner with Maple Valley Cooperative and Fifth Season Cooperative is just one small part of the effort to expand and standardize this niche market. Expanding demand by purchasing biodynamic products is how you can help achieve this goal. As Wickert points out, reasons for buying biodynamic foods include:
- More nutritious, no need to eat so much
- It has a longer shelf life compared to traditional products
- Biodynamic supply chains engage in connected economics to ensure that everyone in the supply chain, from the bottom to the top, can live a decent life
I hope you enjoyed this little “sneak peek” into our brand of biodynamic farms. Knowing who your farmers are, where your food comes from, how it is grown and under what principles – these are all important aspects of a truly healthy lifestyle.
So get to know your local farmers. Talk to them. Visit their farm. Most will be happy to give you a tour and discuss their process. Organic, regenerative and biodynamic farmers tend to be passionate about what they do, and most will jump at the opportunity to educate consumers about their difference.