Memorandum submitted by the Biodynamic
Agricultural Association (SFS 16)
INTRODUCTION
1. Biodynamic agriculture was inspired in
1924 by the holistic and spiritually oriented research of
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Over the last 85 years it has
grown into a worldwide movement and is now practiced in more than
forty countries. It is one of the most sustainable and organic
approaches and is applicable in every climatic zone. See website
for biodynamic FAQ.[60]
2. Demeter is the name of the ancient Greek
Goddess of fertility. Today it is used as a certification mark
on all products which have been certified as complying with strict
international standards for biodynamic production and processing.
See website for full Demeter Standards.[61]
3. Biodynamic Preparations are made from
specially fermented materials of plant and mineral origin. They
are used in the biodynamic system to stimulate plant assimilation,
regulate metabolism in soil and plant and enhance the vitality
and quality of the final product. They have been described as
a form of homeopathy for the earth.
4. Research Biodynamic food is consistently
known for its high quality. A research project recently undertaken
comparing the effects of processed conventional, fresh organic
and biodynamic food against a wide range of health and well being
criteria, has again demonstrated the vitality and health giving
properties of biodynamic food. A summary of results is available
on the website.[62]
1. How robust is the current UK food system?
How well placed is the UK to make the most of
its opportunities
The UK food system has become increasingly vulnerable
and dependent on a low cost global transport system. With the
majority of its food supplies coming from overseas, any interruption
of supply (through oil shortages, terrorism, war, etc.) could
prove disastrous. This is exacerbated by the widespread policy
of last minute supply by Britain's major supermarket chains—the
lorry drivers strike and blockade of oil depots a few years ago
clearly demonstrated this danger. Cheap oil and an ongoing cheap
food policy is feeding a growing problem. It only needs a prolonged
oil shortage (the oil and food price rises in the summer of 2008 was
a warning) to make imported food unaffordable.
Challenges facing the UK food system
A fundamental shift in direction is needed if
the UK is to respond to the challenge of producing more of its
own food. Over the last century the UK has been leading the way
towards creating an efficient and specialised industrial farming
system. This has meant that farms have grown in size and fewer
people have been employed per acre, artificial fertilisers and
specialised mono-cropping techniques have been followed and expensive
and toxic pesticides have had to be used. This has proved very
profitable for the relatively few large sized farmers but is inherently
unsustainable in the long term. In an age of cheap oil such a
system can appear efficient and profitable. Scratch the surface
however and enormous long term problems become apparent:
— Toxic residues in soil and food stuffs.
— Health problems caused by these residues.
— Environmental damage, loss of biodiversity.
— Empty landscapes with no people and
rural unemployment.
— Factory farming and abuse of animals.
— Heavy reliance on oil and oil based
products.
— Cumulative loss of fertile soil.
Soil is the most important ingredient for healthy
food production. Unfortunately the practitioners of industrial
agriculture ignore this and in effect operate a system of "soil
mining". This is demonstrated by the fact that fertiliser
use per acre increases year on year as result of ever declining
soil humus reserves. Through applying lifeless fertilisers these
highly exploited soils are themselves becoming lifeless. They
ultimately serve as little more than root stabilising media. Were
it not for our moist climate the once fertile soils of Britain
would already be desert.
The UK is blessed with a great diversity of
farming landscapes and a rich cultural history. Although suffering
great decline there is still a strong skill base in rural communities.
There is also growing consumer interest in being involved in local,
sustainable food production. This is complimented by a well established
network of highly successful farmer's markets, local food networks,
distribution cooperatives, box schemes and community supported
farms. Although still small in relation to the UK food market,
these initiatives have a huge potential for securing sustainable
sources of food. There is also a strong organic sector which can
lead the way towards a new focus on high quality produce free
from toxins.
How to progress
The UK could once again feed itself but only
if the destruction of our soils is halted and serious efforts
are made to develop soil fertility and introduce a truly sustainable
form of agriculture. There are several things which can and should
be done:
— No more fertilisers and pesticides
The success of the organic movement demonstrates
that farming without fertilisers and pesticides is not only possible
but also profitable and beneficial to the community as a whole.
The health benefits of eating organic food free of toxins are
also well known.
— Farm in harmony with nature
A healthy farm is a mixed farm embedded in the natural
environment of the district. The intimate relationship between
woodland, hedgerows, wetlands, meadows and hillsides etc. is vital
for ensuring stable and well balanced bio-diversity and a healthy
environment.
— Build soil fertility
Cropping must take the building of soil fertility
as its starting point. This means arranging fertility building
crop rotations, developing mixed farms with livestock fed from
the farm, maximizing the use of manures, composts green manures
and grass leys. Biodynamic preparations can be used to stimulate
soil life and enhance vitality.
— Encourage a reduced consumption
of meat
Livestock form an essential part of a farm enterprise.
Their main purpose is to increase soil fertility. They can only
do this if they are fed with home produced feed. This in turn
limits the number of livestock each farm can keep and therefore
the amount of meat produced. It has been calculated that a sustainable
level of meat consumption is approximately two meat dishes per
week.
— Encourage small scale quality
production
Many more people need to be involved with food production,
as home producers but also within the context of small farm production.
Small scale is especially important to achieve quality. A small
area of land can be far more intensively managed and made more
productive than a large area of single cropping.
— Contribution to world food supplies
Britain is very heavily populated and its first priority
should be to feed itself. By reducing imports of food from other
countries, the UK would contribute significantly to food availability
in other countries. There is enough land in these islands to supply
the UK population if it is managed in a sustainable way (as described
above). There would be little scope for food exports but this
in itself will provide a large contribution towards the UK climate
change targets.
— Biodynamic agriculture
A healthy farm is a mixed farm embedded in the natural
environment of the district. The intimate relationship between
woodland, hedgerows, wetlands, meadows and hillsides etc. needs
to be considered and is vital for ensuring a stable and well balanced
diversity. All of these landscape elements and the wild flora
and fauna that accompany them are integral to a truly sustainable
farm. Their presence is important both for the farm and the quality
of the entire surroundings. If then the farm is able to rely on
its own resources to feed its livestock and build fertility, a
truly sustainable system can come about. Additional biodynamic
measures can be applied to strengthen the vitality and disease
resistance of both crops and stock and also enhance the nutritional
quality of the food produced.
(b) Challenges faced by the UK in relation
to:
(i) water availability
Food production methods which rely on a healthy
humus rich soil use generally less water. Sustainable mixed farming
in biologically rich landscape (with trees, hedges, etc) tends
to slow down water loss and hold moisture in the soil.
(ii) the marine environment
The UK has a huge resource area. Unfortunately the
same unsustainable methods have been applied as on the land and
fish stocks are now greatly depleted. Toxins must be removed,
beaches cleaned up, radioactive fallout must be stopped and the
sea should no longer be the place where sewerage and industrial
wastes end up. With care and consideration the wealth of the seas
will return to our shores.
(iii) the science base
The UK has a well of innovative skills and a lot
of research skills. More research into sustainable agriculture
would be very important to help the country move forward more
rapidly. However there is also a lot of experience already available
through the organic and biodynamic movements as well as long forgotten
written research which could be drawn on to help progress.
(iv) training
There is a great need to support the training of
young farmers. Training should be practical apprenticeships rather
than purely college based. Learning with other farmers is a well
proven approach.
2. Emerging trends in the UK food system
It is likely that the interest in local organic
food will continue to grow. At the same time the taste for variety
and world foods will remain strong. This means that trade in exotics
will continue to be an important part of consumer tastes. At the
same time there will be a growing demand for the local production
of all the staples. This fits in very well with the above mentioned
suggestions for a sustainable farming system. The current local
food networks would then become the main means for distribution.
Defra's role should primarily be to encourage
a move to sustainable agriculture employing both the second pillar
framework and a resourced research and training programme.
January 2009
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