Biodynamic agriculture
Biodynamic agriculture is a form of alternative agriculture very similar to organic farming, but it includes various esoteric concepts drawn from the ideas of Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925). Initially developed in 1924, it was the first of the organic agriculture movements. It treats soil fertility, plant growth, and livestock care as ecologically interrelated tasks, emphasizing spiritual and mystical perspectives.
Pronunciation
Biodynamic agriculture: /ˌbaɪoʊdaɪˈnæmɪk ˈæɡrɪˌkʌltʃər/
Etymology
The term "biodynamic" comes from the Greek words "bios" meaning "life" and "dynamikos" meaning "powerful". The term "agriculture" comes from the Latin "agricultura", from "ager" meaning "field" and "cultura" meaning "cultivation".
Related Terms
- Organic farming: A method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, and growth hormones.
- Rudolf Steiner: An Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, esotericist, and claimed clairvoyant who developed Anthroposophy.
- Anthroposophy: A philosophy founded in the early 20th century by the esotericist Rudolf Steiner that postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world, accessible to human experience.
- Soil fertility: The ability of soil to sustain agricultural plant growth.
- Livestock: Domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce labor and commodities such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool.
See Also
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