Media & Trade
PRESS RELEASE:
Download the Demeter BTA Press Release >
IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS:
Biodynamic®: The Demeter label was one of the founding food certification agencies that started in Europe in 1928. It predated certified organic agriculture and follows many of the same guiding principles as organics under the National Organic Program. Demeter Certified Biodynamic agriculture has major philosophical differences from organic agriculture. Viewing the farm as a whole organism, increasing farm biodiversity, and limiting off farm inputs are just a few examples.
Organically Grown: This farming method avoids the use of synthetic chemicals in favor of natural methods, such as crop rotation, tillage and natural composts, which help to maintain soil health and control weeds, insects and other pests. Independent agencies certify farms using organic methods.
Sustainable Agriculture: These practices are interpreted and implemented differently from farm to farm, but the idea is to approach agriculture in a way that is environmentally responsible, socially equitable and economically feasible. However, with no third-party certification for sustainable farming, there is no accountability nor are there measurable goals associated with this method. The term has become increasingly meaningless, as conventional farm operations have adopted the term without actually using appropriate practices.
Conventional: This approach to farming is primarily concerned with production yields rather than product quality or environmental impact. Usually chemical inputs such as herbicides and pesticides are used.
Industrial: Here, agriculture is large-scale, with machine- and chemical-intensive farming. This method erodes the natural ecosystems of the land and treats the harvest as a commodity.
