Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International is the body, based in Germany, which oversees Demeter Biodynamic certification worldwide for all crops, not just for wine. Demeter certification is a regular inspection and review process according to the International Demeter Biodynamic Standard, which is carried out by different organisations throughout the world.
Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International founded Demeter-International and the International Biodynamic Association (IBDA) have joined forces to form the Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International. The new international umbrella organisation thus unites all Biodynamic and Demeter organisations worldwide. The Federation was launched during the annual conference of the Agricultural Section at the Goetheanum in Switzerland in the first week of February 2020. Representatives from over 30 countries attended the founding meeting. “The founding of the new international umbrella organisation cannot be called anything other than historic. At last, the organs of the biodynamic movement – the substantive work on the biodynamic impulse, certification and market development – are coming together in a healthy organism”, said Christoph Simpfendörfer, who was appointed to the executive board of the new organisation.
In the future, all biodynamic and Demeter organisations will work together to advise, decide and develop services for the international community spanning the fields of education, consultancy, research, certification, market development, marketing and political lobbying. For research, training and consultancy, carried out through the free initiatives of the members, the new Federation will offer a common quality assurance and “train-the-trainer” service.
The certification of companies is either carried out by accredited national certification organisations or is offered as a professional service by the Federation.
Demeter markets are becoming increasingly international. In new and existing markets, the visibility of the trademark is increasing, the range of products is broadening and so is their availability. The Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International will therefore remain responsible for the protection of Demeter trademarks worldwide. Demeter’s presence in public discourse must also be strengthened and thus the important contribution of the Biodynamic movement to an agricultural and food culture of the future. The fertility of our soils, animal husbandry, and the social question in agriculture and food production will be the main focus of future work. In 62 countries worldwide, 6,396 farms cultivate 208,327 ha according to the Demeter guidelines. The produce is further refined into high quality products by 875 processing companies, and made available to consumers by 502 traders. In addition, there are also numerous initiatives in which hundreds of thousands of farmers without certification begin to work biodynamically and market their products locally. The formation of the Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International will support and develop the biodynamic movement and aim to take it from strength to strength.
Demeter-International provides a set of standards for production and processing in agriculture for the use of Demeter, Biodynamic® and related trademarks and for labelling. Demeter certification was first granted in 1928 for coffee in Mexico (Richard Swann: 2019 Jan, p.3). There was no such thing as organic farming at this time, but farming to nationally recognised organic standards is now a pre-requisite for Demeter certification.
Demeter is the only ecological association that has built up a network of individual certification organisations world-wide. In 1997 Demeter-International was founded for closer co-operation in the legal, economic and spiritual spheres. The joint organization which is now the Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International has 45 member organizations in 36 countries working for the Biodynamic impulse. 19 are certifying organizations. In all other countries, the International Certification Office (ICO) is certifying. Actually there are a 6.400 Demeter farmers with almost 210.000 hectares in 62 countries.
Demeter wineries worldwide: See here.
Staff: General Secretary: Christoph Simpfendorfer. | International Standards: Ian Henderson.
Demeter International Members
Demeter Österreich in Austria. | Association Demeter France in France. | Demeter e.V. in Germany. | Demeter Associazione per la Tutela della Qualità Biodinamica in Italia in Italy. | Bio Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association in NZ Inc. in New Zealand. | Zdruzenje Demeter Slovenija in Slovenia. | Demeter Schweiz in Switzerland. | Biodynamic Association Certification in the United Kingdom. | Demeter Association, Inc. in the United States.
If you are in one of the following countries, please make contact with your local organisation: Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, India, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, UK
The above undertake Biodynamic certification to the Demeter standard in their country, being accredited for this by Demeter International. In Argentina, Chile, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal and South Africa an accredited third-party certifier will be asked to perform both the baseline organic certification and subsequent biodynamic certification to Demeter International e.V.’s Biodynamic standard. In Australia the Demeter trademark is privately owned by the Bio-Dynamic Research Institute which is not and has never been part of Demeter International.
The Biodynamic & Demeter Trademarks
Demeter International (DI) undertakes trademark protection for the Demeter and Biodynamic trademarks, and for trademarks which are similar. Christophe Simpfendorfer (in Swann 2016, p.42) says ‘some trademark registration authorities consider the term Biodynamic as being descriptive and generic. Therefore they refused the registration. On the other hand, we own some trademarks that have already allowed us to oppose successfully some registrations by third parties.’
Challenges: Asked (in Swann 2016, p.43) what the challenges are General Secretary Christophe Simpfendorfer is quoted as saying that as well as the ‘struggle to keep diversity on our farms, the main challenge will be to find enough young people to carry on our ideals of a real sustainable agriculture. We need new ownership solutions and new ways of sharing responsibilities on farms so that the next generation can find a balance between work, family and personal development.’
Bibliography
Richard Swann, Interview with Christoph Simpfendorfer, General Secretary of Demeter International, Star and Furrow, Issue 125, July 2016 p.42-43.
Richard Swann, Star and Furrow, Issue 130, January 2019 p.3.
Contact
Demeter International
Brandschneise 1
D-64295 Darmstadt, Germany
Tel+49 (0)6155-8469-0 | Website: www.demeter.net