Biodynamic Farming: A Promising Path towards Tomorrow’s Sustainable Agriculture

Bio-dynamics is a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food and nutrition. Biodynamic farming is a form of alternative agriculture very similar to organic farming, but it includes various esoteric concepts drawn from the ideas of Rudolf Steiner. Biodynamics has much in common with other organic approaches. It emphasizes the use of manures and compost, and excludes the use of artificial chemicals on soil and plants. As of 2016, biodynamic techniques were used on 161,074 hectares in 60 countries. The biodynamic movement has reached India in the early 90’s when Peter Proctor, a farmer from New Zealand working with biodynamic agriculture since 1965 was asked to come to India by T.G.K. Menon of Indore in 1993 to teach Indian farmers about biodynamic farming. Unlike most modern agricultural techniques, this practice is entirely environmentally and socially sustainable. Some researchers believe that a “large-scale shift towards biodynamic farming would not only increase the world's food supply, but might be the only way to eradicate hunger”. Biodynamic agriculture is indeed a very sustainable agricultural practice in terms of environmental and social sustainability, where this practice lacks in economic sustainability. It is one of the most environmental friendly farming practices in the world and is well on its way to being one of the sustainable options for the future. So, more and more researches need to be conducted, in order to sustain the world’s supply of food through organic means.