The origins of this farming association date back to the 1920s, when the first farmers in Germany and Austria adopted and implemented the ideas of the anthroposophist Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). In 1924, what is today the oldest organic farmers' association was founded under the name DEMETER. The name goes back to the Greek earth goddess (Greek metre = mother), daughter of Kronos and Rheia, who is one of the twelve Olympic deities (Olympioi). Demeter corresponds to the Roman Ceres and is responsible for the fertility and growth of the earth, the grain, the seeds and the seasons or the vegetation cycle. The name DEMETER in conjunction with the word image is a protected trademark under which biodynamically produced products are sold according to anthroposophical rules. The preliminary stage Biodyn, which means "in conversion to Demeter", is also protected.
Product range
DEMETER's product range comprises more than 3,500 food, cosmetics and fashion items, which are mainly sold in organic food shops and health food stores. DEMETER is the only organic organisation with a worldwide presence in over 30 countries and around 3,500 farms. Analogue to the EU Organic Regulation, there has been a "DEMETER organic wine" (previously "wine from DEMETER grapes") since 2009. The rules and methods of the Biodynamic Viticulture and Bioenergetic Viticulture production forms are also the basis of the DEMETER guidelines for the cultivation of vineyards and the production of organic wine. These not only fulfil the requirements of the EU Organic Regulation, but even exceed them by far. These include the use of biodynamic preparations and the complete avoidance of pesticides and chemical plant protection products. There are also significantly lower limits for sulphur (sulphites) in the wine.
Certification process
A special organisational feature of the DEMETER certification process is the farm development meeting. Together with the farm manager, the next year's development steps towards further convergence with the biodynamic ideal are determined. This promotes the idea of development, which entails corresponding steps that go far beyond the regulations. For the farms and wineries, the discussion is an obligatory prerequisite for further recognition as a DEMETER farm and the use of the DEMETER brand image.
There are well over 600 DEMETER wineries in more than 20 countries worldwide with a total of around 10,000 hectares of vineyards. Of these, 60 are located in Germany with 500 hectares and 35 in Austria with 300 hectares. The strict certification and subsequent annual inspection process is carried out by the organic and ecological inspection bodies commissioned and trained by DEMETER. DEMETER is organised in its own national associations. DEMETER-Austria is a member of the umbrella organisation Bio Austria, DEMETER-Germany is a member of BÖLW. See also under organic viticulture.
Rudolf Steiner: by Otto Rietmann - Public domain, Link
