Healthy Nature

Oh great! Here it is.

It’s coming again.

Another change to how you eat food so it’s even more complicated to shop than ever before.

You may have seen the word “biodynamic” on some of the food labels you have looked at recently.

Well, it makes sense to understand that term and what means so you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.

“Biodynamic” is Actually Extremely Similar to Organic

Here’s the bottom line: when you get “biodynamic” food, you’re getting “organic” food too.

The main difference is that “biodynamic” approaches to farming include some spiritual concepts first introduced by Rudolph Steniner in the 1920s.

Basically, biodynamic farmers include this spiritual thinking in an effort to maintain the health of their own farm land and that of the surrounding land too.

Some farmers even let part of their land remain a natural wild habitat for local wildlife to use as they see fit.

Farmers using the biodynamic approach also emphasize crop diversification, and they like to see the processing and distribution of their food decentralized.

Composting is a huge deal to biodynamic farmers too.

It is a sustainable farming practice. And it aims to keep local economies in balance also.

So it’s very much in line with organic farming.

Differences Between Biodynamic and Organic Farming

Some people claim that biodynamically grown food tastes better than its organic counterparts.

However, regardless of what you hear, research hasn’t proven biodynamic food is any more healthy or beneficial than organic food in any way.

So you’re really just getting anecdotal/experiential evidence based on a person’s opinion.

One Swiss study by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture found that out of a conventionally grown field (with insecticides), organic field, and biodynamic field, the soil on the biodynamic field became much more fertile after 15 years.

But, that’s just one finding and not a large enough body of evidence to conclude anything.

The primary difference is that biodynamic farmers believe in a spiritual component to their processes. For example, some spread cow manure over their field in many tiny doses (versus a few large ones), which they believe “harmonizes life processes.”

Some farmers may plant their fields based on phases of the moon, or zodiac signs.

But, these beliefs, regardless of how unusual you might think they are, do not cause harm to you or biodynamic food in any way.

Biodynamic Foods Definitely Won’t Harm You

Biodynamically grown food isn’t a huge thing. But, it’s a growing market. So it’s something to look for and that might surprise you the next time you visit your local supermarket.

The important thing to know is that practically speaking, it’s basically the same as organic food. And it may do some additional good to the farmer’s local environments too.

Biodynamic foods do have to be certified. And that certification comes from Demeter USA.

So if you see biodynamic food sometime in the future, feel just as comfortable as you would buying organic.