Biodynamic Research Articles

Sustainability and Social Farming in the Czech Republic: The Impact of Selected Factors on the Employment of Disadvantaged Persons in Agriculture

In the agricultural sector, where factors like the type of agriculture, management techniques, and access to funding are critical, disadvantaged people face significant barriers to employment. This study investigated the effects of these factors, especially with regard to sustainability and social farming, on the employment of disadvantaged persons in the Czech Republic. We sent questionnaires to 2036 agricultural businesses within the Czech Republic, and the data we received were sorted and analyzed. There was a favorable relationship between farm size and employment chances. Disadvantaged people were more likely to be hired by large farms, especially those larger than 250 hectares. Furthermore, mixed-production farms were more capable of employing disadvantaged persons, unlike conventional farms, which reached their maximum employment levels at one, three, or six workers. Organic farming had a more even distribution, while biodynamic farming showed limited capacity to employ disadvantaged persons. Farms involved in fundraising had fewer farms but employed more disadvantaged persons (number of employees peaked at two, four, and six), while farms that did not engage in fundraising hired more disadvantaged individuals (peaked at one and three employees). The motivations for employing disadvantaged persons were primarily social concerns, as well as labor shortages and economic and innovative factors. These findings show the importance of agricultural enterprises using these factors to improve the social and economic well-being of disadvantaged persons.

Can silica application enhance vine performance and quality?

Consumer awareness of environmental sustainability and concern for food safety and quality is driving increased demand for organic and biodynamic (BD) produce. This is coupled with a more physically and economically challenging environment pushing producers to explore more sustainable management techniques. Biodynamic viticulture has both environmental and marketing benefits as drivers and involves the application of a series of nine preparations to soil and plants. Biodynamic preparation 501 is silica-based and has minimum yearly use requirements for certified growers. There are conflicting reports of silicon-based foliar sprays eliciting favourable plant reactions about improvements in quality, yield, and resistance against pests and diseases. Here, vine growth, yield components, berry and wine composition analyses, and sensory evaluations were conducted in two seasons to compare the effects of biodynamic and commercial silica treatments against a water control on Semillon and Cabernet-Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) vines. In both seasons differences in yield and vine growth were observed. Generally, yield was greater with the application of biodynamic silica and potassium silicate. Basic berry compositional attributes pH, TA, TSS, and total anthocyanins and phenolics showed little to no differences. Sensory descriptive analysis of berries and wine indicated significant differences in attributes related to skin and seed tannins, implying that these analyses may better detect subtle yet important variations in the vineyard. The results of this study suggest a direct correlation between silicon and polyphenols, potentially influencing sensory mouthfeel characteristics through changes in skin thickness and/or structure. This study indicates that applying silica can positively impact vine performance and quality.

Enhancing Water Use Efficiency and Carbon Profitability Through the Long-Term Impact of Sustainable Farming Systems

This study aims to enhance water use efficiency, maximize productivity, and minimize environmental impact through the implementation of sustainable agricultural systems using drip irrigation systems. It investigates the effects of biodynamic farming compared to those of organic and conventional methods over a six-year period and focuses on soil properties, water use efficiency, crop yield, and environmental and economic perspectives. Using a biodynamic farming system resulted in an average increase in water use efficiency of 1.96 and 10.67% for maize and 3.62 and 10.68% for faba bean and an increase in maize yield of 1.68 and 0.99%, while the faba bean yield reached 3.25 and 1.57% compared to the organic and conventional farming systems, respectively. The biodynamic system sequestered the highest average soil carbon of 6.16 tons/ha (which is equivalent to 22.45 tons/ha of CO2 emissions), representing a 13% increase compared to the organic system. Additionally, the biodynamic system yielded an increase in total net profit of 5.70 and 21.66% for the maize crop and 6.72 and 22.19% for the faba bean crop compared to the organic and conventional farming systems, respectively. The farming system significantly influenced the soil carbon sequestration and organic carbon.

Spent Mushroom Substrate Improves Microbial Quantities and Enzymatic Activity in Soils of Different Farming Systems.

Organic fertilizers, such as spent mushroom substrate (SMS), improve soil fertility, but studies comparing their effects on different agricultural soils are limited. In this study, the effects of standard, SMS and composed fertilizers on soils from conventional-integrated, organic and biodynamic farming were investigated. Soil samples were analyzed for microorganisms and the activity of β-glucosidase (β-GLU), β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), urease (URE), arylamidase (ARN), phosphatase (PHOS), acid phosphatase (PAC), alkaline phosphatase (PAH) and arylsulphatase (ARS). Biodynamic soil showed the highest microbial counts and enzyme activities, followed by organic and conventional soils. SMS significantly increased the number of microorganisms and enzyme activities, especially in biodynamic and organic soils. Seasonal variations affected all microorganisms and most enzymes in all soils, except NAG in conventional and organic soils. Biodynamic soil showed stable activity of enzymes and microorganisms throughout the year, indicating greater stability. This study concludes that soil microorganisms and enzyme activities respond differently to fertilization depending on the soil type, with SMS demonstrating beneficial effects in all tested soils.

Variations and Commonalities of Farming Systems Based on Ecological Principles

In the last few decades, various types of farming systems based on ecological principles have been proposed and developed. There is often interest in knowing about the differences between these systems, but such information must be obtained from several sources describing each of these systems. Therefore, this paper is an effort to consolidate the information on these systems in a concise manner without making comparative ratings between them. We found three components contained in the overarching theme of these systems: the reduction in external inputs, environmental protection, and sustainability. However, several variations exist between them, each with its own focus and guiding principles. Also, these farming systems contain their own specific terms to identify themselves and contain their own set of philosophies based on their founder. In this review, we provided a short description of some of the major ecologically based farming systems such as “agroecology”, “regenerative agriculture”, “holistic management”, “carbon farming”, “organic farming”, “permaculture”, “biodynamic farming”, “conservation agriculture”, and “regenerative organic farming”. We summarized these farming systems as “variants of farming systems based on ecological principles” and outlined the similarities and differences between them. We also discussed how the themes of these systems relate to the United Nations’ thirteen principles of agroecology. Although these systems share several similarities, their philosophy is rooted in their founders and the communities that choose to adopt these philosophies. Last, we discussed some of the challenges in implementing these ecological agriculture systems.

Grapes and gains: the influence of farming methods on Austrian wine ratings and prices

ABSTRACT Purpose: The objective of this study is to ascertain whether there are statistically significant price differences between Austrian biodynamic, organic and conventional wines, and whether these wines are rated differently in an internationally recognised wine guide. Design A content analysis of the Austrian Gault&Millau Wine Guides 2015–2018 was carried out. The data analysed – 8,667 different wines featured in the four editions mentioned – included the names of the wineries, company size, region of origin, rating (points) and cellar door prices. Results The results show that biodynamic wines in the Austrian Gault&Millau wine guides 2015–2018 (928 in total) are significantly better (higher) rated and have higher cellar door prices than organic wines (1,180 positions) and conventional wines (the vast majority – 6,559 wines). No significant evidence was found for differences in cellar door prices between organic and conventional wines. Practical implications The results do not necessarily indicate that Austrian wines made from biodynamic grapes are better and more expensive than others. Rather, our results indicate that a large number of leading Austrian wine producers use biodynamic farming methods, and thus the average ratings and average prices of these wines are inherently higher.

Impact of biodynamic and organic vineyard management on the microorganism community and aroma characteristics of cabernet sauvignon wine

Researchers and winemakers have recently paid more attention to biodynamic (BDN) and organic (ORG) vineyard management to produce more healthy and regional wines. However, little attention has been paid to the correlation between agricultural systems, microbiota, and wine quality in biodynamic and organic wines in Ningxia, China. In this study, volatiles of wine and microorganism diversities during the wine fermentation using Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from vineyards of biodynamic, non-dynamics (BNDc, i.e., conventional one which was close to BND, considered to be a control of BND), organic, and non-organic (ORGc, i.e., conventional one which was close to BND, considered to be a control of ORG) in Ningxia, China were investigated. Hanseniaspora uvarum, Cladosporium sp., and Alternaria alternata were the main three fungal species, and Lactobacillus kunkeei, Citrus maxima, and Tatumella ptyseos were the main three bacterial species. Surprisingly, BDNc and ORG showed a significantly higher diversity of fungal communities than BDN and ORGc. The network in BDNc was the most complex, with the highest average degree and density and a higher clustering coefficient. Managing biodynamic and organic vineyards could result in floral, herb, spice, and medium floral aromas with low temperate fruit, tropical fruit, and berry flavors to wines. The correlation between agricultural systems, microbiota, and wine sensory systems showed that lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus) played critical roles in ORG and BDN by offering pleasant sensory and nutritional benefits. Moreover, Nowamyces globulus, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Fusarium sp., Microterricola viridarii, Citrus maxima, Sphingomonas faeni, Cladosporium sp., Cladosporium ramotenellum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Kodamaea ohmeri and Lactobacillus plantarum were positively correlated with aroma compounds. This study improves our understanding of the influence of vineyard management on microorganism succession and wine characteristics, providing a reference and scientific basis for the development of BDN and ORG wines.

Modern Approaches to Sustainable Agriculture

The global population is increasing at an alarming rate, presenting a formidable challenge in meeting the escalating demand for food. This concern has garnered the attention of agrarian scientists and policymakers worldwide. The present population's rapid utilization of natural resources raises apprehensions about compromising the entitlement of future generations to access nutritious food and clean air. The multifaceted causes of this challenge can be delineated, with a prominent factor identified as the deficient or suboptimal implementation of innovative approaches and practices for sustainable agriculture. These contemporary strategies encompass climate-smart agriculture (CSA), precision farming, sustainable intensification, biodynamic agriculture, regenerative agriculture, organic farming, agroecology, integrated nutrient management (INM), integrated pest management, conservation agriculture, aquaponics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics. It discusses the potential of these approaches to enhance resource efficiency, optimize yield, minimize environmental impact, and address challenges related to food security and climate change resilience. Empirical evidence supports the assertion that the adoption of these approaches and practices serves as a safeguard for agricultural sustainability.

Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Integrating Agronomic Practices, Environmental Physiology and Plant Nutrition

Sustainable agriculture aims to meet the growing global demand for food without compromising environmental integrity. This review paper explores the integration of agronomic practices, environmental physiology, and plant nutrition as pathways toward sustainable crop production. Intensive agricultural practices have led to significant problems such as soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and environmental pollution. Recent advancements in plant physiology have enhanced our understanding of plant growth and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Optimizing crop production in a sustainable manner depends on insights into key processes like photosynthesis, water use efficiency, and nutrient uptake. This review discusses the role of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) as biofertilizers, providing an alternative to harmful agrochemicals. PGPMs can improve soil health and promote plant growth when applied to soil, seeds, or plant surfaces, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Additionally, nanotechnology in agriculture is examined, illustrating how nanomaterials (NMs) and nano-based fertilizers can enhance nutrient absorption and increase crop yields. Beyond these scientific approaches, there is an urgent need to implement novel agricultural practices that support sustainability. The world population is growing at a disquieting rate, placing tremendous pressure on natural resources. This threatens future generations' access to nutritious food and clean air. Innovative approaches like climate-smart agriculture, organic farming, biodynamic agriculture, sustainable intensification, and regenerative agriculture, along with practices such as integrated farming systems, precision agriculture, integrated nutrient management, and integrated pest management, have proven to safeguard agricultural sustainability. By integrating these innovative approaches and practices, it is possible to meet the increasing demands for food while preserving the environment.

Nordic Pioneers of Biodynamic and Organic Agriculture

Fifty Nordic pioneers of biodynamic (BD) agriculture, and hence of organic agriculture, are identified. These individuals, from Norway (n = 23), Sweden (n = 12), Denmark (n = 10), and Finland (n = 5), joined the Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners in the years 1924–1946. These pioneers comprised both men (n = 35) and women (n = 14), with one member of undetermined gender. The Experimental Circle was headquartered at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland. One of these pioneers (Anna Wager-Gunnarson) attended the foundational course of biodynamic and organic agriculture, presented by Dr Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), in eight lectures at Koberwitz (now Kobierzyce, Poland) in June 1924. The core element of the course was that agriculture was properly a biological rather than a chemical pursuit. The ‘Agriculture Course’ was subsequently issued (in German from 1926) as a subscriber-only published book to members (of the Anthroposophical Society) who joined the Experimental Circle. Each Circle member signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and committed to testing the ideas of the course. A milestone was the 1938 book by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, ‘Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening,’ which arguably released Experimental Circle members from their NDA. Nordic members joined progressively over the two decades following the Koberwitz course, with new memberships peaking in 1932 (n = 7), and continuing through the years of World War II (WWII). Biodynamic agriculture is still practiced in the Nordic countries of these pioneers, with Denmark presently accounting for 2,998 hectares, Sweden 873 ha, Norway 548 ha, and Finland 384 ha. The Nordic countries have developed strong organic sectors, with Sweden accounting for 610,543 ha of certified organic agriculture (which is 20.2% of its agricultural land), Finland 315,112 ha (14.4%), Denmark 299,998 (11.4%), and Norway 45,181 ha (4.6%). Iceland has no identified BD pioneers, presently no BD hectares, and 6,440 ha of organic agriculture (0.4% of total agriculture land). The identification of the 50 Nordic pioneers of the present paper provides recognition as early-adopters and invites further research on their life, legacy, and role in founding BD and organic agriculture in the region.

Introduction to Special Collection: Plant-Anthropo-Genesis: The Co-Production of Plant–People Lifeworlds

Ethnobiology has long recognized that human and plant relationships produce particular ways of living. The discipline is increasingly asking how these lifeworlds reflect and create sociopolitical formations—from low-impact hunting–gathering or slash-and-burn agriculture, to colonial plantations and runaway settlements, to contemporary agribusiness and alternative biodynamic agriculture. In this special issue, we propose the concept plant-anthropo-genesis to highlight the ways in which plants and people are co-produced. We explore entanglements between plants and people over time, drawing on wide-ranging ethnographic and historical research to offer new and critical insights into the ways that plant–human lifeworlds co-produce one another—from the processes of racialization in plantation societies to the aspirational interventions of gardeners, farmers, and scientists aiming for redemption from chemical industrial agriculture. The collection centers on acts of reciprocal human and botanical labor through a variety of contexts and perspectives in crop fields, including: how monocrops and plantations reshape socioecological life; ritual dimensions of plant–human interactions; and the regenerative alternatives that re-imagine plant–human relations and agro-ecological possibilities amid the historical weight of extractivist agriculture in plant-anthropo-worlds.

Yields of biodynamic agriculture of Immanuel Voegele (1897-1959): Experimental Circle data of Pilgramshain

A century ago the New Age philosopher Dr Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) called for the development of a differentiated. agriculture, one focussed on biology rather than chemistry. At his Agriculture Course at Koberwitz (now Kobierzyce), in the summer of 1924, Steiner founded the Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners. The Experimental Circle members each signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Their task was to test Steiner’s ideas, establish what worked, and to publish the results. That injunction was arguably satisfied by the publication of Ehrenfried Pfeiffer’s book ‘Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening’ in 1938. The results reported in the present paper are Experimental Circle results that were subject to the secrecy provisions of the NDA at that time (1936), and are now finally revealed. Immanuel Voegele (1897-1959) recorded yields for five crops under Biodynamic (BD) management in the years 1931-1933, comparing these results to yields in the pre-BD years 1920-1926. He reported yield increases for potatoes to 55%, rye up to 48%, oats to 31%, wheat to 14%, and barley to 9%. Voegele was well credentialed and grounded to report on Biodynamics. He had studied agriculture at Stuttgart, he attended the Agricultural Course of Rudolf Steiner at Koberwitz, and he was an inaugural member of the Experimental Circle. Voegele had served as a farm manager at the Koberwitz estate of Count Carl Keyserlingk (1869-1928) (until 1925). He subsequently worked at the Biodynamic farm of Ernst Stegemann (1882-1943) at Marienstein. The present paper reports longitudinal yield results for five crops at Voegele’s farm at Pilgramshain, Silesia, Germany, before and after the conversion to BD. These early BD yield data were shared amongst ‘the faithful’ at the time, and only now publicly. From the high point of his reported successes with BD, life and prospects for Voegele would rapidly deteriorate. The Nazi regime was hostile to Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophy, and Anthroposophic ventures (of which Biodynamics was one). All books by Rudolf Steiner were banned by the Nazis in 1935 (including the Agriculture Course). Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and slaughtered millions of Polish civilians, before eventually in 1945 the Russian Army routed the Nazi army. The Russians marched on ‘Fortress Breslau’ and on to Berlin, sparking a mass westward exodus of Germans, including Immanuel Voegele. Territory, including Pilgramshain, was relinquished to Poland at the Potsdam Conference of 1945. Immanuel Voegele’s legacy of reported successes with Biodynamics at a time when secrecy prevailed is now shared.

Tasting life and energy with the body: the biodynamic resonance of wine

ABSTRACT Based on two long term research with natural and biodynamic winegrowers in France, this text returns to the principles of biodynamic agriculture in its desire to potentiate the living character of the vine and the soil; living supposed to translate into energy or vibrations in the glass. Why is wine attracted to biodynamics? The hypothesis put forward, which would partly explain the apparently happy marriage between wine and biodynamics, is that the latter helps to give more life and energy to wine and that this energy would be perceived through new way of tasting. Our aim here is not so much to study what this extra life or energy might be as a scientific object as these notions are in any case impossible to stabilize from a scientific point of view. The reason for our use of these unstable categories is that they emerge repeatedly on the subject of biodynamic wines from the discourses of winemakers, enologists, sommeliers and tasters, whether beginners or advanced. These categories of energy or vibrations, still in gestation, refer to forms of wine tasting that go beyond organoleptic criteria alone to extend to the receptivity of the whole body involved in the act of drinking.

Biodynamics enriched organic amendments in improving leaf and soil nutrition of Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

Biodynamics is a holistic, and ecological approach in organic farming which emphasizes building up the soil. The present experiment studied effect of biodynamics enriched organic amendments on yield attributing characters and yield, leaf and soil nutrition of Khasi mandarin. The experiment comprised of eleven treatments viz. T1: Farm yard manure (FYM), T2: vermicompost (VC), T3: Pig manure (PIM), T4: Poultry manure (POM), T5: Neem cake (NC), T6: FYM + Cow Pat Pit (CPP) + Bio Dynamic (BD) 500 + BD 501, T7: VC + CPP + BD 500 + BD 501, T8: PIM + CPP + BD 500 + BD 501, T9: POM + CPP + BD 500 + BD 501, T10: NC + CPP + BD 500 + BD 501 and T11: control (RDF). Results revealed that the highest increment in N-S, E-W spread (0.28 and 0.29 m), canopy volume (4.79 m3), leaf total N (2.43%), K (1.96%), Fe (274.97 ppm), Mn (26.84 ppm), Cu (11.08 ppm) chlorophyll a (1.52 mg/g), chrolophyll b (0.60 mg/g), total chlorophyll (2.12 mg/g), soil organic carbon (7.29 g kg−1), inorganic carbon (2.23 g kg−1), total carbon (9.52 g kg−1), total N (0.681 g kg−1), available N (643.86 kg ha−1), P (87.06 kg ha−1), K (206.34 kg ha−1), Fe (62.12 ppm), Mn (28.95 ppm), Cu (2.66 ppm), Zn (2.20 ppm), bacteria (53.92 × 104 CFU/g) and fungi (44.79 × 104 CFU/g) was recorded with T7. Hence, T7 is most effective biodynamics enriched organic amendment in leaf and soil nutrition of Khasi mandarin.

Enrichment of putative plant growth promoting microorganisms in biodynamic compared with organic agriculture soils

Abstract The potential of soils to maintain biological productivity, defined as soil health, is strongly influenced by human activity, such as agriculture. Therefore, soil management has always been a concern for sustainable agriculture and new methods that account for both soil health and crop yield must be found. Biofertilization using microbial inoculants emerges as a promising alternative to conventional interventions such as excessive mineral fertilization and herbicide use. Biodynamic preparations used as a central part of biodynamic agriculture have various effects on soil properties, such as microbial biomass and respiration. We conducted several biomarker experiments to infer the effect of biodynamic preparations on soil prokaryotic and fungal communities and compared results to organic management. Potential plant growth promoting amplicon sequence variants were quantified using a commercial database based on their taxonomic identity. We found significantly higher numbers of putative plant growth promoting amplicon sequence variants in biodynamically compared with organically treated soils. Furthermore, prokaryotic amplicon sequence variants enriched in biodynamic preparations were found in higher numbers in biodynamically treated soils, indicating successful colonization after treatment. Experiments were conducted at three locations in Germany and 21 locations in France covering different crops and soil types. Altogether, our results indicate that biodynamic preparations can act as biofertilizers that promote soil health by increasing the abundance of plant growth promoting microorganisms.

Evaluating the impacts of different wheat farming systems through Life Cycle Assessment

The main challenge in the durum wheat production chain is to capture as much as possible of the yield potential, whilst supporting long-term sustainability. The present work mainly aims at assessing the environmental performances of organic, biodynamic and conventional farming systems by adopting the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Old durum wheat cvs. Senatore Cappelli and Saragolla cultivated in biodynamic and organic farming, respectively, and a commercial durum wheat cv. Antalis cultivated in conventional farming in the same area were evaluated. Midpoints and endpoints impacts of the Recchia et al., 2019 method refer to three different units relating to crop yield (1 Mg yield), cultivated surface (1 ha surface) and farm gross income (1 K € GI). The total impact of biodynamic farming for 1 Mg yield was by 22% and by 19% greater than conventional and organic farming systems, respectively. As to an equal cultivated surface, biodynamic and organic farming systems are high performing, with impacts constantly lower (by −52% and −56%, respectively) than those of conventional farming. In relation to an equal gross income, the organic and biodynamic farming systems showed lower impacts than the conventional one in view of higher prices of organic and old cultivars heritage that increase farm profitability. LCA provides valuable comprehensive information on the environmental performance of durum wheat cultivation in different farming systems.

Integrated business model of sustainable development for agricultural sector

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to improve the methodology of the integration process of business model to ensure environmental, social and financial results of entrepreneurial activity taking into account the interests and needs of stakeholders and to study the possibilities of implementing sustainable practices in different segments of the business model and the sustainable value created by these transformations. Results. The study highlights a number of approaches to the methodology of creating sustainable business models, which are the Business Model Canvas, the Teece Business Model, the Ecosystem Pie Model, and the Sustainable Value Creation Model. Each of the methodologies has its advantages and disadvantages, but they all have common elements that can be combined and integrated when considering industry specifics. The author used the methodology of creating sustainable value, which is formed through the implementation of new approaches to the implementation of sustainability, in particular, the methods of ecodesign, climate-smart agriculture, organic farming, biodynamic agriculture, sustainable intensification and renewable agriculture. Sustainable value is created through activities in different segments of the business model, at the same time the Business Model Canvas (BMC) is a template for mapping the transformations in each segment. The integrative business modeling approach is able to provide a detailed qualitative overview of a specific business by combining social, environmental and economic components with stakeholder theory. Therefore, taking into account the needs of a wider range of stakeholders than is provided for in the "key partners" field of the Canvas model took place through the implementation of sustainable value in the complex Ecosystem Pie Model. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty consists in the adaptation of the methodology of transformation of traditional business models into sustainable ones for the agricultural sector, which, unlike the existing ones, allows taking into account sustainable value through new sustainable approaches that cause changes in the fields of Business Model Canvas with the subsequent transfer of their individual elements to the Ecosystem Pie Model for a systematic visual perception of both the current situation and prospects for further development for the enterprise. Practical value. The results of the research can be used by scientists, representatives of business and state institutions dealing with the issue of introducing sustainability principles into existing traditional business models, based on the needs and interests of stakeholders.

Biodynamic farming research and transdisciplinary knowledge co-production: Exploring the synergies

Transdisciplinary research (TDR) values the inclusion of multiple worldviews for knowledge co-production. Biodynamic farming (BF) corresponds to a specific worldview, in which inner capacities play a major role. Through its century-old history, BF has proven to be an important source and catalyst for innovation. This ability can be fostered as part of TDR projects and inspire leading edge methodological innovations for the TDR field itself. The article provides multiple examples of such synergies, yet it is argued that much of the transformative potential remains to be activated.

Toward climate-resilient and biodiverse agriculture in the Mediterranean region: experiences and perceptions of farmers engaged in sustainable food production

The abandonment of smallholder agriculture and the expansion of conventional intensive agriculture pose a potential threat to the multifunctionality of agriculture. The adoption of intensive conventional practices generates negative outcomes, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and degradation of land, water, and ecosystems. An ecological transition in agriculture is urgently needed. This paper collects and systematizes the opinion of farmers in Spain, engaged in different food production systems (e.g., organic agriculture, biodynamic agriculture, regenerative agriculture, and conservation agriculture), as alternatives to intensive conventional agriculture. In collaboration with agricultural associations and networks in Spain, we co-created an exploratory online survey including qualitative and quantitative questions. Based on 60 in-depth questionnaires, we assess (1) the practices used by the consulted farmers, (2) the perceived effects following the introduction of sustainable practices, and (3) the challenges and opportunities for farm profitability. Our preliminary results show that farmers apply nine out of 14 sustainable practices, on average, and 65% of our sample consciously adapt their practices to climate change. Farmers perceived positive changes in soil properties, biodiversity, and pests after using these practices. They mentioned the low income as the most significant challenge. Finally, we conducted an online discussion with representatives of the associations. Farmers’ perceptions of positive changes presented in this paper are not intended to be representative of farmer communities across Spain, but provide a first overview of those engaged in the ecological transition.

Nano-Black Carbon Improve Phosphorus Uptake, and Sustain Soil and Plant Health Under Biodynamic Agriculture

ABSTRACT Numerous factors, such as the soil’s low organic content and the inaccessibility of phosphorus nutrients in acidic soil conditions, restrict the growth of crops and the health of the soil. In the 21st century, crop production and soil health need attention for food security in order to enhance soil fertility and vigorous crop production. The objective of the study was to investigate how biodynamic farming affects on soil health and plant biomass production as phosphorus can react with aluminum and iron in acidic soil to generate insoluble compounds that are unavailable to plants. Phosphorus availability in acidic soil might be a problem and less available to plant roots as a result of the precipitation. By lowering the solubility of aluminum and iron in acidic soils, nano-black carbon increases the availability of phosphorus to plants. Experimental findings revealed that grain phytate concentration and fertilizer use-efficiency were significantly improved with agronomic interventions. The highest GPC and TPU were noted with nano-black carbon tretament. However, SPU was increased with muck compost application. The maximum GPC, SPU, and TPU were recorded at 100 kg P ha−1. Maximum GPC, SPU, and TPU were recorded with Trichoderma achlamydosporum than Pseudomonas. Highest FUE was recorded with 75 kg-P-ha−1. AE and PFPp altered with treatments and highest AE and PFP were noted with nano-black carbon. Conclusively, PAE, PFPp, and FUE were higher with integration of nano-black carbon+achlamydosporum along with inorganic P (75 kg per hac) can improve soil health and nutrients status along with yield and productivity on a sustainable basis.