Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture: A Review in Relation to Sustainability

Abstract

This paper focuses on organic and biodynamic farming systems - sectors growing rapidly in many countries - and particularly on their relationship with the concept of sustainability. Both technical packages promote and improve the health of the agro-ecosystems related to biodiversity, nutrient biocycles, soil microbial and biochemical activities. In addition to the common tools of organic agriculture, biodynamic agriculture uses specific manure and fermented herbal preparations as compost additives and field sprays. Organic farming and biodynamic agriculture have been regarded as having different provenances and having arisen independently, but the authors suggest to consider organic and biodynamic farming systems as a unique sustainable system driven by a common holistic approach.