DEMETER

The trademark Demeter is used to designate biodynamic agriculture products in about 50 countries around the world. The Demeter certificate is awarded after meeting additional criteria beyond organic farming (each country has its own national standard) and the use of the label is subject to very strict controls and contractual conditions.

Biodynamic agriculture is an alternative way of farming described by the Austrian founder of anthroposophy, philosopher, educator and esotericist Rudolf Steiner. He was not the only one who began to notice that the food he encountered on a daily basis tasted completely different from the same foods of his childhood. He correctly concluded that the change in taste and quality was due to the plundering of agriculture, the use of nitrogen fertilizers and the mass development of food production. In 1924, Steiner organised a series of lectures in Silesia for an audience of around 100, in which he explained his idea of the 'agricultural organism', which consisted of a considerate way of farming enriched by a new way of fertilising and revitalising the soil, using special biodynamic preparations to improve the resistance of crops. The biodynamic way of growing crops also takes into account cosmic processes, taking into account the influence of the planets, stars, moon, sun, constellations and their position in the zodiac. In 1928, the trademark Demeter was introduced to designate the products of biodynamic agriculture. Only products that meet the strict Demeter standard, in addition to complying with the country's organic farming requirements and guidelines, can carry this label. Cosmetics bearing the Demeter logo must comply with the conditions for controlled natural cosmetics and Demeter distinguishes three levels of certification according to the amount of raw materials: - "true" Demeter certification can be carried by organic products (at least 95% of certified organic ingredients) that contain at least 90% biodynamic ingredients - another type is organic products (at least 95% of certified organic ingredients) containing at least 66% biodynamic ingredients, which may be labelled with the Demeter logo with the note 'in transition to Demeter' - the last level is organic products (at least 95 % certified organic ingredients) containing at least 10 % biodynamic raw materials, which may include the note 'Demeter ingredient' in the ingredients http://www.demeter.net/