Biodynamic agriculture looks at a farm as one interconnected living system. Soil, plants, animals, wildlife, farmers, and food production all play a role in supporting the health of the whole.
Demeter-certified biodynamic farming builds upon organic agriculture with additional standards designed to regenerate the land, encourage biodiversity, protect animal welfare, and preserve food quality. Instead of focusing on a single crop or growing season, farmers work to create a balanced cycle in which the farm continually gives back to itself.
Here are five pillars at the heart of the biodynamic process.
1. More Biodiversity
A biodynamic farm is designed to provide space for more than the crops being harvested.
Farmers support biodiversity through practices such as polyculture, crop rotation, permanent grassland, flowering areas, hedgerows, water features, and habitats for insects, birds, and other wildlife. At least 10% of Demeter farmland is reserved for biodiversity or left in a more natural state.
Chemical pesticides and herbicides are prohibited. By avoiding these inputs and cultivating a greater variety of plants, biodynamic farms can support a richer mix of species than conventionally cultivated land.
This diversity contributes to the farm in many ways. Bees and butterflies help pollinate crops. Birds and beneficial insects can support natural pest control. Earthworms and microorganisms help build fertile soil. Each species becomes part of a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.
2. Animal Welfare
Animals are not treated as separate from the land on a biodynamic farm. They are considered an important part of the farm cycle.
Demeter farmers raise animals in conditions intended to support their natural behaviors, with access to pasture and fresh air. Whenever possible, feed is grown on the same farm rather than brought in from outside sources. Animal manure can then be composted and returned to the fields, helping nutrients circulate naturally within the farm.
Demeter standards also restrict practices that alter an animal simply for convenience. Dehorning, debeaking, wing clipping, tail cutting, and tail docking are prohibited under Demeter’s animal-welfare principles.
Keeping cows’ and goats’ horns intact is one of the most recognizable features of Demeter animal husbandry. The horns are viewed as a natural part of the animal and are respected as such within the biodynamic approach.
By allowing animals to live in a way that better reflects their nature, biodynamic farming recognizes their value beyond production alone.
3. Healthy Soil
Healthy soil is the foundation of biodynamic agriculture.
Rather than viewing soil as an inert growing material, biodynamic farmers treat it as a living ecosystem filled with roots, microorganisms, fungi, insects, and organic matter. The goal is not simply to replace nutrients after each harvest, but to continually regenerate the soil.
Composted animal manure, crop rotation, biodiversity, and biodynamic preparations help build a rich layer of humus. This organic matter provides nutrients for plants while helping regulate moisture, air, and heat within the soil.
Healthy soil can also support:
- Improved water retention
- Stronger and deeper root systems
- Greater biological diversity
- Reduced nutrient loss into groundwater
- Increased storage of carbon in the soil
By returning organic materials to the earth and avoiding chemical pesticides and herbicides, biodynamic farms help keep the soil full of the nutrients and life needed to support future food growth.
4. Healthy Plants
Healthy plants begin with healthy seeds and fertile soil.
Biodynamic farmers do not use genetically modified or chemically treated seeds. They work to preserve seed diversity and often favor open-pollinated varieties that can be grown and reproduced naturally.
Plant health is supported through natural compost, crop rotation, biodiverse growing environments, and biodynamic preparations. Synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are prohibited.
Biodynamic farms also avoid relying on a single crop whenever possible. Growing multiple varieties can help protect soil fertility, create habitats for wildlife, and make the farm more resilient to pests, weather, and other environmental pressures.
Instead of forcing plants to grow through intensive chemical inputs, the biodynamic process focuses on creating the conditions they need to grow naturally.
5. High Food Quality
The biodynamic farm cycle ultimately leads back to the food grown and produced on the farm.
Demeter-certified products must meet both organic and Demeter requirements. These standards apply not only to farming, but also to processing and handling throughout the value chain.
The goal is to protect the quality and integrity of ingredients from the field to the finished product. Processing methods should preserve or enhance the natural character of the food rather than unnecessarily diminish it.
Biodynamic farming also supports regional production, traditional farming knowledge, diverse crops, and careful stewardship of natural resources. Together, these practices help create thoughtfully grown ingredients while protecting the land needed to nourish future generations.
How the Biodynamic Farm Cycle Works
Each pillar strengthens the next.
Healthy soil supports healthy plants. Diverse plants provide food and shelter for insects and wildlife. Animals contribute manure that can be composted and returned to the soil. Crop rotation helps replenish the fields. Biodiversity improves the resilience of the entire farm.
Nothing exists in isolation.
This circular approach allows farms to work toward several connected goals:
- Regenerating soil
- Supporting biodiversity
- Protecting animal welfare
- Reducing dependence on external inputs
- Preserving natural resources
- Producing high-quality food
- Supporting ecological and social responsibility
Rather than continually taking from the land, biodynamic farming is designed to restore what it uses and maintain balance over time.
What Demeter Certification Means for Holle Families
Holle has a long history of working with thoughtfully sourced ingredients and rigorous European agricultural standards. Select Holle products—including many whole-grain cereals, fruit and vegetable pouches, and baby food jars—are made with Demeter-certified biodynamic ingredients.
When you see the Demeter seal on a Holle product, it represents more than the ingredients inside the package. It reflects a holistic farming process rooted in healthy soil, thriving plants, biodiversity, responsible animal care, and respect for the natural farm cycle.
Because nourishing little ones begins long before food reaches the table. It begins with how the land is cared for.
Shop Demeter-Certified Biodynamic Favorites
Bring the biodynamic farm cycle into your family’s routine with Holle products made with Demeter-certified biodynamic ingredients. Explore our whole-grain cereals, made for simple, nourishing meals at home, and our fruit and veggie pouches, designed for convenient snacking on the go. You can also browse the full Demeter-certified biodynamic collection to discover more thoughtfully made options for your little one.
