Biodynamic farming — what it is, how it differs and what it has to do with citrus
Biodynamic farming sounds like something a group of hippies invented in the nineteen-seventies. In fact it was formulated by Rudolf Steiner in 1924, an Austrian philosopher who gave lectures on education, art and, apparently, on how to grow carrots following lunar cycles. The curious thing is that, almost a century later, many of his ideas about soil health and integrated ecosystems are being validated by mainstream science.
Biodynamics is not the same as organic farming, although they share principles. Understanding the differences helps you make informed choices about what you buy and eat.
What biodynamic farming is
Biodynamic farming is an agricultural production system that treats the holding as a living, interconnected organism. It does not stop at eliminating synthetic chemicals — organic farming does that too — but adds an extra layer: biodynamic preparations, sowing calendars based on astronomical cycles and particular attention to the vitality of the soil as a complete biological system.
The biodynamic preparations are blends of medicinal plants — yarrow, chamomile, nettle, oak bark, dandelion and valerian — applied in very small doses to compost or directly to the soil. The idea is to stimulate the soil’s microbial processes, not to feed the plant directly. It works more like preventive medicine than fertilisation.
The best-known biodynamic certification is Demeter, which requires compliance with all European organic-farming standards plus the biodynamic-specific ones. It is one of the strictest certifications in the food sector.
How it differs from organic farming
Organic farming, regulated by EU Regulation 2018/848, prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers and requires crop rotation and animal welfare. It is a solid, verifiable standard.
Biodynamics goes a step further in several respects. It requires that at least 10 per cent of the surface area be devoted to biodiversity — hedgerows, ponds, uncultivated zones — that the holding tend towards self-sufficiency in fertilisation — producing its own compost rather than importing inputs — and that the biodynamic preparations be used according to a specific calendar.
Is biodynamics better than organic? Not necessarily. They are different approaches within the same spectrum of environmentally respectful farming. What is true is that biodynamics forces you to think of the holding as a complete system, not as isolated plots producing a single crop.
Biodynamics and citrus — what makes sense and what does not
In citrus farming, some biodynamic principles fit perfectly. The importance of living soil, for instance, aligns with what we know about cover crops and their effect on soil structure and biodiversity. The idea of diversifying crops and maintaining perimeter hedgerows is exactly what the best-managed fields in Valencia’s huerta do.
Other aspects — sowing according to lunar phases or preparations made from buried cow horns — generate more debate. The scientific evidence for their efficacy is limited and contradictory. That does not mean they do not work, but one must be honest about what is proven and what is a philosophical bet.
What we can say with certainty is that fields applying biodynamic or advanced sustainable practices — living soils, biodiversity, minimal chemical intervention — produce fruit with organoleptic qualities that studies link to a higher concentration of secondary compounds. In other words: healthy soil produces fruit that tastes better.
What we do
Our Valencia oranges do not carry biodynamic certification, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. What we do is apply sustainable-farming principles that coincide with many biodynamic practices: cover crops, respect for the soil’s natural cycles, no post-harvest treatment, no wax and no fungicides.
We believe the label matters less than the practice. And that an orange picked at peak ripeness, from a tree growing in well-tended soil, sent straight to your door without middlemen or treatments, is a product whose quality needs no certification to be self-evident.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between organic and biodynamic farming?
Organic farming prohibits synthetic pesticides and fertilisers under EU Regulation 2018/848. Biodynamics meets those same requirements and adds specific preparations, an astronomical sowing calendar and an approach to the holding as an integrated organism. The best-known biodynamic certification is Demeter.
Is biodynamic farming scientifically proven?
Some of its principles — living soil, biodiversity, composting — are supported by agronomic science. Others — biodynamic preparations, lunar influence — have limited evidence and are the subject of debate.
Can citrus be grown biodynamically?
Yes. Citrus holdings with Demeter certification exist. The principles of living soil, cover crops and crop diversification are perfectly applicable to Mediterranean citrus farming.
Is CitrusRicus biodynamic?
We do not hold biodynamic certification. We apply sustainable-farming practices that coincide with several biodynamic principles — cover crops, living soil, no post-harvest treatment — but we do not use the biodynamic preparations or follow the Demeter calendar.
