Demeter Standard is the strictest standard for organic agriculture worldwide. The Standard is an agreement on the minimum requirements that a biodynamically managed farm must meet in order to receive its Demeter recognition. Demeter farms are inspected annually for compliance with the Standard in addition to the organic inspection.
Compliance with this standard for food and raw materials of agricultural origin in general requires organic certification as a pre-requisite. This organic certification must be to legally defined requirements, for example EU regulation on organic agriculture and processing, the USA’s National Organic Program (NOP), Japan Agricultural Standard (JAS) or equivalent. Please see the standart at link: https://demeter.net/certification/standard/
The International Certification Office (ICO) of the Biodynamic Federation Demeter International e.V. works together with approved inspection bodies, which have trained Demeter inspectors, to carry out Demeter inspections in countries without an existing Demeter association. These Demeter inspections are carried out annually in addition to organic inspection. Inspection bodies offering the services are at the link; https://demeter.net/services/licensee-information/
According to Demeter standart, each unique farm is made up of interwoven systems that depend on one another – on soil, plant, animal, humans and environment. So it makes sense that the whole farm, not just a portion of it, needs to convert to Demeter.
Demeter standart has 7 basic principles:
- Soil fertility: The view is that plants ripen best into valuable food in living soil where the humus layer is rich and nourishing.
2.Healty Plants –GMO-Free Agriculture: By building up vital and fertile soils, promoting biodiverse environments, and using biodynamic preparations, biodynamic farmers care for healthy and vital plants.
3.Respect for the Nature of Animals: Animal welfare is Demeter’s highest priority. Farmers create conditions on their farms that allow animals to behave in a way that suits their nature, free-range and pasture-fed. Animal feed ideally comes from their own farms, and is not bought externally.
4.Biodiversity is Priceless: At least 10% of the farmland is left wild or dedicated to biodiversity.
5.Highest Organic Qality Guaranteed: The strict standards go above and beyond organic, providing with premium quality products. Demeter products are always certified to both organic and Demeter standards.
6.Ecological Responsibility: Demeter growers understand the mutual interdependencies in the ecosystem and collaborate with all of nature’s stakeholders. Worldwide, they create biotopes for all living things on their farms – from the smallest insect to the largest animal and all of the life in between.
7.Social Responsibility:At the heart of biodynamics lies a deep desire for social justice, respect and empowerment. Social responsibility and transparency are fundamental principles of the Standard.
Some other important rules:
In cases of need, copper may be used such that the average amount used over 7 years shall not exceed 3 kg/ha/year, preferably with a maximum of 500g/ha/spray. In grape- and hopgrowing regions with high fungal pressure the respective certifying organisation may grant an exemption for the use of an average amount of up to 4 kg/ha/year over 7 years.
Rule for crop rotation – 20% soil building plants, preferably legumes.
For Arable farming – The total amount of nitrogen and phosphorus applied from all types of fertilisers used may not exceed 112 kg N/ha/yr (and as an orientation 43 kg P/ha/yr) based on the total area of the farm.
For Perennials – The total amount of nitrogen applied from all types of fertilisers used, may not exceed 96 kg N/ha/y in general, 50 kg N/ha/y for viticulture (calculated as an average over three years) and 170 kg N/ha/y for perennials in the (sub)tropics.
Commercial fertilizers are limited to 40kgN/ha of the farmed area.