Beckmen on Biodynamics Part III: Organic v. Biodynamic; Biodynamic v. Regenerative Organic
Posted: Feb 27, 2024
There is no argument that the move towards biodynamic, organic and regenerative organic farming is a good thing for wine and the earth, but as typical in our industry, we like to make things challenging. There is little information available about what is involved in following these practices and what makes them different from each other. In this blog, we will discuss the different farming practices for each practice before moving onto the even more challenging subject of organic, biodynamic and natural wine in part 4 of this blog series.
In the previous parts of this blog series — Beckmen on Biodynamics Part 1 and Beckmen on Biodynamics Part II: The Five Core Concepts of Biodynamics — we went into great detail about our chosen farming philosophy Biodynamic. You can go back and read those articles so we will not spend too much time on biodynamic farming in this article. There are links at the end of this blog if you are interested in the certification process for these farming methods.
Let’s start with the difference between organic and biodynamic.
We have often spoken about this subject and typically state three main differences between these two farming philosophies. Much of this information was gleaned from an esteemed colleague in Biodynamic farming, Hugh Courtney, who helped establish the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics and was one of the finest Biodynamic prep makers as well as an expert on biodynamic farming. Hugh noted both in print and to me personally that the three main differences between biodynamic and organic farming are the use of the biodynamic preps, the use of the biodynamic calendar and the holistic vision where life comes from life, meaning the biodynamic farm’s fertility does not come from a bag of organic fertilizer but from the manure and compost created from the animals on our farm. This simple explanation makes sense because the roots of organic farming come from the Biodynamic philosophy.
Both philosophies focus on building healthy and enlivened soils without using poisons or harmful chemicals like Roundup. It is how they go about creating these enlivened soils where you find a difference. Organic farming does not take the holistic approach that Biodynamic farming does. Organic farming will still fertilize out of a bag as long as it is organically produced and sourced. Both philosophies strive to create diversity on their farms and in their crop rotations or cover crop rotations, and both are open to tillage, a practice of turning the soil over. There is, however, no talk of a closed system or creating a farm ecosystem with organic farming but it is a core value of Biodynamic farming.
Regenerative Organic is a relatively new and very hip topic in the wine business right now. It combines parts of organic farming with parts of biodynamic farming while adding something completely its own. Think of it as a way for those farmers who have a hard time embracing some of the more esoteric practices of biodynamic farming like the preps and calendar to incorporate other parts of biodynamic practices into their organic practices. It is an evolution of both organic and biodynamic farming. Biodynamic farming requires a leap of faith which not all farmers and people are willing to make. Regenerative opens up some of the very important ideas of biodynamic to a wider audience who are unwilling to take that leap, and now do not have to with Regenerative Organic.
A regenerative organic farm includes similar ideas of biodiversity and animals on the farm for fertility like the Biodynamic system, but makes them a requirement for certification which is different than Biodynamic certification. The Regenerative Organic system is a holistic one like Biodynamic and encourages farmers towards a closed system. The regenerative organic system does not allow tillage, but will make exceptions in some instances. There are no such specifications in biodynamic certification in fact many Biodynamic farmers till and till often. The idea of no till relates to another very hot topic of today: global climate change and the move to trap more CO2. The belief is that no till captures more CO2 than till. Tilling can be extremely beneficial to a farm and vineyard if it is not done in excess. Our biodynamic system includes a tilling rotation throughout the vineyard with different rows being done each year. Tilling can help stimulate root growth, can aerate compacted soils, and most importantly for us, it helps eliminate competition for water, our most precious resource.
Another very cool aspect of regenerative organic is taking care of the people and employees who work the farm through higher wages and healthier working conditions. Taking sustainability to include not just the farm, plants, and soils but the people who work the farm, plants, and soils. All employees who work on an Organic, Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic farms and vineyards benefit from healthier working conditions. The fact that Regenerative Organic certification makes this a part of the certification process is admirable.
All three of these systems promote the ideas of healthy soils and healthy plants. All three are good for our farms, our wines and our world. Having started working with biodynamics for over twenty years, it has been fascinating to see the growth and evolution of these healthy farming philosophies. We are at a great point now where wine growers have options and can do what they feel is best for them personally, their wines, and their vineyards. We obviously chose our direction early and are very comfortable with our system as we continue to learn and evolve with our biodynamic farming. The important thing is that more vineyards are moving towards farming that is beneficial to the earth and humanity. The quality of these benefits is seen in the wines being produced off these vineyards throughout the world, including our own.
For more information on the different certifications being discussed here, please visit these websites:
Biodynamic – www.demeter-usa.org
Regenerative Organic – www.regenorganic.org
Organic — www.usda.gov/topics/organic