RUDOLF STEINER'S WORLDWIDE EFFECT
Posted: 11 Oct 2023, 11:13
RUDOLF STEINER'S WORLDWIDE EFFECT Google translated from the German: unchecked
Impulses for sustainable agriculture and rural development
by Tadeu Caldas
What was only a course for a hand-picked audience in a Silesian manor house in 1924, today, after 90 years, has become a conceptual and practical force in the field of agriculture and rural development, which still emits its original and creative waves. Their effects should be assessed not only on the still relatively small certified Demeter area, but on the broader influence on ideas and practices of organic and sustainable agriculture. Although only 150,000 hectares worldwide are Demeter-certified, with 39 million hectares organic and hundreds of millions that are managed more sustainably than the agricultural mainstream, in my opinion some key ideas and innovations go back to this course.
Role model for principles and rules
In the 1970s to the 1990s, when ecological systems became increasingly accepted by governments and universities, the few examples of a Demeter farm that was productive, economically stable, sustainable over many decades, were founded by pioneers who had been inspired by the course in Koberwitz. The template for the eco-standards of IFOAM was written in the 1980s with a view to the long-proven Demeter standards, when practitioners and researchers from the biodynamic and organic movement worked together under the umbrella of IFOAM, as well as later the farmers and the researchers. Jan von Ledebur from the Research Ring for Biological-Dynamic Economics and the FiBL employees and members contributed significantly to this. In these years, when the organic movement formed, half of the IFOAM board were at times biodynamics, e.g. B. between 1990 and 1994 Jan von Ledebur, Tadeu Caldas, Jan Diek van Mansvelt and Rainer Bächi. Pierre Ott and later also Patrick Holden had met biodynamics with Herbert Koepf at Emerson College.
During this time, the EU also became aware of the farmers represented by IFOAM and their methods that promised solutions to food security and environmental problems. Acceptance, promotion and legal regulation followed: The draft EU Organic Regulation 1991 followed the IFOAM standards as well as the National Organic Program of the US Department of Agriculture in 2000.
The influence of biodynamic principles such as self-sufficiency based on closed cycles in soils and plant nutrients or the development of biodynamic operating organisms spread deeply into the academic world as well as into politics. FAO documents at the conference in Rio 1992 already contain remarkable statements such as: "It is necessary to intensify agriculture by diversifying production systems with a view to maximum efficiency in the use of local resources, while minimizing environmental and economic risks..." This is reminiscent of Steiner's concept of the individual operating organism. In the same year, the UN adopted its Convention on Biodiversity and thus called on farmers to pay attention to diversity in their cultivation and land. From now on, the FAO also defined and promoted sustainable agriculture, established a reference for agricultural policy worldwide. Today, FAO, WHO and UNCTAD are working together to highlight and highlight the multifunctional and cross-cutting benefits of organic and sustainable agriculture.
The early cooperation between the German research ring or Institute for Biological-Dynamic Research and the Swiss FiBL also included a long-term experiment to compare the systems Dynamic, Organic and Conventional. Its results are the only ones collected to this extent worldwide and show the clear advantages of biodynamics for the soil, published in the respected science.journal *2002: Mäder, P. et.al: Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296, 1694-1697).
Holistic view and participation
Steiner originally formulated the concept of an agricultural ecosystem during his lectures in Koberwitz. In science, this term was not used until the late 1930s. The relationship between the elements of the agricultural ecosystem only became clear in studies of agricultural systems in the 1970s. For example, the description of the energy flows showed that biodynamic systems were more efficient than conventional agriculture dependent on energy and oil. The importance of diversity in operation was later also measured by enabling ecosystem services.
Steiner also suggested a new understanding of trace elements in agriculture, including silicon and other micronutrients. His holistic view and his recommendations for the development of living soils as a basis for healthier food is now a valid perception, such as B. describes the "good agricultural practice" of the FAO.
Steiner also appreciated traditional indigenous knowledge and called for healthier agricultural practices that combined peasant wisdom and holistic science. The biodynamic experimental circles also united farmers and researchers in search of solutions for farms. This approach later became the basis for a revolution in research methods worldwide in the 1980s, which forced science to connect with farmers and include down-to-earth knowledge systems in research strategies and process development. A new concept, participatory research and development from below, was created: The basis was Robert Chambers (University of Sussex) formulation: "putting the last forward". The biodynamic Emerson College, also in Sussex, was invited at the time to contribute to this approach. In his courses, students also came into contact with Paolo Freire's "adult education as a freedom practice", a method of involving farmers in participatory development. A completely different aspect, widespread today, is the use of mixed culture and plant pesticides.
Practiced worldwide and increasingly recognized
The use of biodynamic preparations is now promoted as good agricultural practice in India, China and now Bhutan. Sensitive crystallization and soil chromatography slowly overcome the restriction to biodynamic movement, are used by scientists as well as by practitioners. The biodynamic course in Brazil is recognized by a nearby university. Biodynamic practices are used by more than 600 wineries and the most important winemakers in France, Germany, Italy, USA, Argentina, Chile and Australia. Compost with Ehrenfried Pfeiffer's compost starter is produced all over the world, and Maria Thun's sowing days are translated into more than 50 countries.
Overall, Rudolf Steiner introduced a new path for the development of a more holistic science and practice of agriculture in 1924, which shows how optimal productivity and high nutritional quality can be achieved in the very diverse climates of our planet on economically and culturally completely different companies.
The unbiassed commitment to agriculture that goes beyond good agriculture was decisive for the spread of biodynamic principles into broad agriculture: Today there is a basis for sustainable agriculture, with respect for Rudolf Steiner's broad holistic impulse in Koberwitz.
Impulses for sustainable agriculture and rural development
by Tadeu Caldas
What was only a course for a hand-picked audience in a Silesian manor house in 1924, today, after 90 years, has become a conceptual and practical force in the field of agriculture and rural development, which still emits its original and creative waves. Their effects should be assessed not only on the still relatively small certified Demeter area, but on the broader influence on ideas and practices of organic and sustainable agriculture. Although only 150,000 hectares worldwide are Demeter-certified, with 39 million hectares organic and hundreds of millions that are managed more sustainably than the agricultural mainstream, in my opinion some key ideas and innovations go back to this course.
Role model for principles and rules
In the 1970s to the 1990s, when ecological systems became increasingly accepted by governments and universities, the few examples of a Demeter farm that was productive, economically stable, sustainable over many decades, were founded by pioneers who had been inspired by the course in Koberwitz. The template for the eco-standards of IFOAM was written in the 1980s with a view to the long-proven Demeter standards, when practitioners and researchers from the biodynamic and organic movement worked together under the umbrella of IFOAM, as well as later the farmers and the researchers. Jan von Ledebur from the Research Ring for Biological-Dynamic Economics and the FiBL employees and members contributed significantly to this. In these years, when the organic movement formed, half of the IFOAM board were at times biodynamics, e.g. B. between 1990 and 1994 Jan von Ledebur, Tadeu Caldas, Jan Diek van Mansvelt and Rainer Bächi. Pierre Ott and later also Patrick Holden had met biodynamics with Herbert Koepf at Emerson College.
During this time, the EU also became aware of the farmers represented by IFOAM and their methods that promised solutions to food security and environmental problems. Acceptance, promotion and legal regulation followed: The draft EU Organic Regulation 1991 followed the IFOAM standards as well as the National Organic Program of the US Department of Agriculture in 2000.
The influence of biodynamic principles such as self-sufficiency based on closed cycles in soils and plant nutrients or the development of biodynamic operating organisms spread deeply into the academic world as well as into politics. FAO documents at the conference in Rio 1992 already contain remarkable statements such as: "It is necessary to intensify agriculture by diversifying production systems with a view to maximum efficiency in the use of local resources, while minimizing environmental and economic risks..." This is reminiscent of Steiner's concept of the individual operating organism. In the same year, the UN adopted its Convention on Biodiversity and thus called on farmers to pay attention to diversity in their cultivation and land. From now on, the FAO also defined and promoted sustainable agriculture, established a reference for agricultural policy worldwide. Today, FAO, WHO and UNCTAD are working together to highlight and highlight the multifunctional and cross-cutting benefits of organic and sustainable agriculture.
The early cooperation between the German research ring or Institute for Biological-Dynamic Research and the Swiss FiBL also included a long-term experiment to compare the systems Dynamic, Organic and Conventional. Its results are the only ones collected to this extent worldwide and show the clear advantages of biodynamics for the soil, published in the respected science.journal *2002: Mäder, P. et.al: Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296, 1694-1697).
Holistic view and participation
Steiner originally formulated the concept of an agricultural ecosystem during his lectures in Koberwitz. In science, this term was not used until the late 1930s. The relationship between the elements of the agricultural ecosystem only became clear in studies of agricultural systems in the 1970s. For example, the description of the energy flows showed that biodynamic systems were more efficient than conventional agriculture dependent on energy and oil. The importance of diversity in operation was later also measured by enabling ecosystem services.
Steiner also suggested a new understanding of trace elements in agriculture, including silicon and other micronutrients. His holistic view and his recommendations for the development of living soils as a basis for healthier food is now a valid perception, such as B. describes the "good agricultural practice" of the FAO.
Steiner also appreciated traditional indigenous knowledge and called for healthier agricultural practices that combined peasant wisdom and holistic science. The biodynamic experimental circles also united farmers and researchers in search of solutions for farms. This approach later became the basis for a revolution in research methods worldwide in the 1980s, which forced science to connect with farmers and include down-to-earth knowledge systems in research strategies and process development. A new concept, participatory research and development from below, was created: The basis was Robert Chambers (University of Sussex) formulation: "putting the last forward". The biodynamic Emerson College, also in Sussex, was invited at the time to contribute to this approach. In his courses, students also came into contact with Paolo Freire's "adult education as a freedom practice", a method of involving farmers in participatory development. A completely different aspect, widespread today, is the use of mixed culture and plant pesticides.
Practiced worldwide and increasingly recognized
The use of biodynamic preparations is now promoted as good agricultural practice in India, China and now Bhutan. Sensitive crystallization and soil chromatography slowly overcome the restriction to biodynamic movement, are used by scientists as well as by practitioners. The biodynamic course in Brazil is recognized by a nearby university. Biodynamic practices are used by more than 600 wineries and the most important winemakers in France, Germany, Italy, USA, Argentina, Chile and Australia. Compost with Ehrenfried Pfeiffer's compost starter is produced all over the world, and Maria Thun's sowing days are translated into more than 50 countries.
Overall, Rudolf Steiner introduced a new path for the development of a more holistic science and practice of agriculture in 1924, which shows how optimal productivity and high nutritional quality can be achieved in the very diverse climates of our planet on economically and culturally completely different companies.
The unbiassed commitment to agriculture that goes beyond good agriculture was decisive for the spread of biodynamic principles into broad agriculture: Today there is a basis for sustainable agriculture, with respect for Rudolf Steiner's broad holistic impulse in Koberwitz.