Modern biodynamic agriculture

The personality program on CCTV-10 introduced a man named Peter Prokot, regarded as the father of modern biodynamic agriculture. It’s interesting; I wonder if it would be feasible to implement this in China

Modern biodynamic agriculture, as the name implies, should emphasize the comprehensive application of biology in agriculture. It involves using biological principles, methods, and approaches to strengthen and develop agriculture, thereby reducing the control and pollution exerted by non-biological factors. This approach aims to pursue sustainable development in biological agriculture, addressing the issues related to the mutual development and constraints among various organisms, and maintaining a dynamic balance within the biological world in order to achieve the greatest benefits for agriculture.

This post was last edited by dyzl on 2009-5-12 at 13:55. Peter Prokot, the father of modern biodynamic agriculture. In the 1960s, chemical agriculture, known as the \"Green Revolution,\" became widespread; grains produced in large quantities using chemical substances permeated every aspect of life. The natural world, on the other hand, has been utterly transformed: soil has degraded and become infertile, and water resources are being wasted in large quantities ； Moreover, the monopolies of multinational corporations on food seed prices further aggravate the situation for farmers, leaving them with insufficient income to cover their expenses. Faced with such a harsh reality, Peter Proctor from New Zealand has traveled around the world for 60 years. Promote biodynamic agriculture, which uses manure as the main raw material to produce biological mixed fertilizers, in an effort to reverse the damage caused by chemical fertilizers to soil, water sources, and crops. Over the past 15 years, he has visited and traveled to India 25 times, enabling biodynamic farms to flourish across the country. Near the age of 80, he moved his family and settled in India. I hope to find a complete set of methods to save this planet, based in India. A Great Old Man (2009-04-01 08:36:51) Yesterday, the program “People” on CCTV Channel 10 featured a specialist in biodynamic agriculture – Peter Prokot. He promotes the use of biodynamic agriculture in India, where manure and plant waste are mixed together and fermented in sealed conditions to produce organic fertilizer that can be used in fields instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. India is also a country with a large population; it once relied on fertilizers and pesticides to increase food production, which led to soil compaction and degradation, and the loss of vitality in the land. Today, Peter Proctor’s biodynamic agriculture is being widely promoted in India; after several years of using organic fertilizers, the soil becomes loose and fertile, regaining its vitality. A large number of earthworms reappeared in the soil, and tilling the land attracted many birds, restoring the ecological environment of the farmland. Peter Proctor said, “Healthy soil leads to healthy plants, and healthy plants lead to healthy people.” That’s absolutely true! Land revitalized with organic fertilizer sees an 50% increase in its water retention capacity, which effectively enhances its drought resistance and reduces water consumption – truly a virtuous cycle. If we can also vigorously promote biodynamic agriculture, then a large number of rural workers will not be busy going to cities to work, but rather busy producing organic fertilizers to improve the soil. In a few years, it might be possible to restore the natural beauty of those areas with their lush mountains and clear waters. Only those who live on healthy land can have healthy bodies. What an ideal future that would be. Peter Proctor is nearly eighty years old; rather than leading a comfortable retirement, he moved to India with his wife to devote himself to promoting his biodynamic agriculture. He wasn’t some high-ranking figure, but the tangible work he did to save the land and humanity truly makes him a great person! Peter Proctor’s Biodynamic Farming (04-01-2009 08:30:44) This morning, from 8 o’clock to 8:30, while listening to the news, I watched a segment that talked about Peter Proctor and his biodynamic farming methods. I know very little about agriculture and soil, but I think his motivations are rooted in real-world problems, and his approach is green and natural. Peter, who is white, and his wife now live on the Indian subcontinent, where he promotes his ideas and methods of organic farming in this vast area of arable land. It seems that our generation has lived, from birth to now, on land treated with fertilizers and pesticides, fed by seeds that have been \"modified\" genetically. It is only today that I have come to understand that chemical fertilizers and pesticides severely damage the structure of the soil. They give rise to certain types of bacteria and fungi, which replace the balanced microbial community that exists in the soil. These organisms consume large amounts of humus in both the surface and deeper layers of the soil. As a result, the soil’s ability to retain water is reduced, and the humus is depleted; ultimately, the soil can rely only on excessive amounts of water and fertilizer to sustain itself as a growing medium. Fertilizers and pesticides have brought 30–40 years of prosperity to humanity, but at the cost of the soil’s 5,000 years of accumulated nutrients. At my core, I admire the spontaneous dynamic cycles of the biosphere and species diversity. Decades of excessive use of chemical fertilizers have disrupted the mutually supportive cycle that has existed for thousands of years among sunlight, soil, microorganisms, and plants, causing this cycle to lose its momentum ； The use of standardized seeds has greatly reduced the space available for the existence of more genes. The genes that are able to develop through our \"selection\" may do so merely because they possess a few genetic advantages such as high yield and disease resistance. We chose them, and those genes that were not chosen by us may possess excellent qualities in aspects that we are not even aware of, but humanity artificially deprived them of their opportunities. The excessive role played by humans in the entire ecological cycle – a role that can even be described as somewhat overconfident on their part – along with the supernatural selection imposed by humans on various species, may one day turn out to be serious mistakes committed by civilization in its infancy. Everyone should care about agriculture and nature, because we are rooted in them. In global agriculture, a variety of different farming techniques are in use, ranging from highly traditional methods to highly scientific approaches. Biodynamic agriculture, based on careful observation and spiritual principles, seems more suited to Chinese culture and its deep understanding of the essence of the mind. 　　One question is whether, for Chinese agriculture as a whole, transforming its culture into biodynamic methods is beneficial. Furthermore, for example, are there clear benefits indicating that it can be applied to China’s cotton industry in a similarly effective manner? For cotton farmers and cotton distributors as a whole, whether to adopt biodynamic farming methods is a matter of interest. 　　Another economic and social issue is that biodynamic farming methods can also be utilized by the large number of small farmers in China, who face financial difficulties in developing the methods and techniques required for this new form of agriculture. Are there any viable experiences in financing through other financial channels rather than using the capitalist methods that dominate on a global scale? Yes, in fact, there are very interesting experiences that have developed in the agriculture and food supply sectors. These methods are called “cooperative techniques” and are based on close and effective cooperation among the various parties that are directly involved in this process: producers, distributors, consumers, and banks. 　　This article will therefore describe how biodynamic farming methods, along with the \"cooperative techniques\" of cooperation and financing, have proven to be highly effective in the development of agriculture in China. 　　Traditional agriculture First, we will provide a brief introduction to traditional agriculture, which holds a more dominant position on a global scale. This type of agriculture has developed from advances in natural sciences. Agricultural products are initially rationalized through industrial methods, which leads to a wide range of improvements. The most important aspect is the involvement of mechanical machines, which are also widely used in biodynamic agriculture. The use of too many machines **reduces the need for labor in agriculture. This results in a continuously growing surplus labor force available for industrial development, thereby helping to improve productivity; from another perspective, this leads to lower production costs and consequently lower consumer prices. 　　However, the serious harms in industrial agriculture are beginning to be studied and analyzed. The Baltic Sea in Scandinavia is now disappearing. It is distributed in nine different **, including Russia, Poland, and Germany. Most of its bottom area is dead, with no plant or animal organisms, and this trend is accelerating. A major reason for this is agriculture and its inability to prevent water from seeping into farmland, where it becomes contaminated by herbicides and pesticides. This leakage also poses a serious threat to the groundwater level, contaminating the water in large areas where thousands of people live. This is a very serious issue, even in a country **like India or China as well. 　　Such chemical agriculture would use even more energy than biodynamic agriculture for the transportation of external inputs as well as fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. With the decline of oil resources worldwide and the rapid rise in oil prices and transportation costs, it is very dangerous to rely increasingly on such services. 　　Chemical agriculture also consumes the humus in the soil, which means that carbon such as carbon dioxide is released into the air. Carbon dioxide is a major threat to the process of global warming, which in turn will lead to rising sea levels. In 2007, the thick ice surrounding the Arctic melted faster than expected. This process of melting and its consequences will inevitably lead to a rise in global sea levels, and to some extent, densely populated coastal areas in many parts of the world will be flooded. . A focused action plan to prevent the escalation of this disaster is necessary. It will prove necessary to use transformative technologies to change the design of dominant products and consumer goods. But this article will not go on to discuss the different aspects of this topic. 　　Advantages of biodynamic agricultural products What is the contribution of the biodynamic product approach to this development? 　　Instead of using humus, biodynamic agriculture creates humus, which in turn binds carbon in the soil. The shift from conventional chemical agriculture to biodynamic agriculture will thus help reduce the severe threat of climate change. Since traditional farming began to use industrial and chemical technologies, it has spread throughout the world. It would be of great value if China, with its large population, took the lead in adopting biodynamic methods; this would show that not only do the Chinese people increasingly need to do so, but the same is true for societies in the West and the South. In those societies, in many cases, narrow capitalist interests take precedence over broader global solidarity in business life, and it is now necessary to address the dangers posed by climate change. 　　A 21-year study by DOK in Switzerland showed that, compared to chemical agriculture, biodynamic farming results in stronger root systems in plants. This means that biodynamic agriculture is very suitable for areas with infertile soil, grasslands, and even deserts. Therefore, biodynamic agriculture thrives in places where chemical agriculture cannot survive. In the Egyptian Sahara, a region consisting of nothing but sand, Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish has established the Sekem community using biodynamic agricultural methods, drawing widespread attention from around the world. Therefore, Dr. Abouleish was awarded the “Nobel Prize for the Environment”. \　　Biodynamic agriculture also establishes individual farming plans for each farm, regardless of size, and provides farmers with the greatest possible yield, both in biological terms and economically. Faced with the threat of food shortages in China due to population growth, biodynamic agriculture is well-suited for widespread adoption among small farmers, who undoubtedly wish to improve both the yield and quality of their harvests while making continuous contributions to maintaining food supplies. 　　To achieve the above, more effort should be invested in establishing a comprehensive and effective action plan. Under Mr. Fu’s leadership, the Chinese Biodynamic Association already exists. He is promoting all the necessary spiritual and conceptual knowledge regarding how to establish and widely develop this agriculture. Mr. Thomas Luthi is in charge of relations between China and Demeter International, and as a member of its board of directors, he seems to be very interested in the biodynamic knowledge that has been established in China by Mr. Fu. 　　For this reason, Mr. Fu asked us in Scandinavia what kind of experience we could offer in the fields of education and training for field trainers. This is certainly a big task. Many or all Chinese regions are likely to show interest in carrying out growth-oriented activities in this task. Once a group of trainers has received training, successful development thus depends on the efficiency of the first-phase teaching. A major task for Chinese societies, organizations, enterprises, cooperatives, and individuals is to provide financial support for the development of this effort; ultimately, I am convinced that millions of Chinese people will be involved, including producers, traders, and consumers. 　　How can positive cooperation be developed among producers, traders, consumers, and banks in order to achieve strong rural development in China? 　　As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the most interesting experiences of such economic cooperation movements have already emerged. This movement was established and implemented over the 100 years starting from the end of the 19th century, and much can be learned from it for today’s economic life. In Denmark, a small Scandinavian country with a population of 4 to 4.5 million in this century, this is known as the cooperative movement. 　　More than half of the adult population, or 2 million Danes, have participated in this collaborative effort through venture capital. At one time, it took place in agricultural branches and food supply enterprises, which is to some extent similar to China’s current stage of development. Many small farmers face significant difficulties in keeping up with the rapid development of other sectors and aspects of economic life. These farming households are geographically spread across the rural areas of Denmark, that is, the regions where the majority of the population still lives. 　　This cooperative movement created new industries with a higher level of technology, such as mills, dairy plants, and slaughterhouses, making possible the technological advancements that the consumer market desired. Part of the business strategy for the cooperative movement is to seek financing from venture capital, so as to be able to negotiate with banks and secure funds for investments. Capital-rich and capable businessmen were invited to undertake these financings, thereby gaining ownership of the new industries. However, the cooperative movement rejected this proposal, despite the fact that farmers, especially small-scale farmers, basically had no cash to invest in such projects. For cooperative movements, it is necessary to finance venture capital within their own branches, especially at the beginning with small farmers. 　　Denmark has plains with fertile soil suitable for agriculture. As a result, farmers and the food supply industry realize that they have great sales potential, not only in the export markets they are already involved in. To ensure possible and sustained sales growth in this market, they need a reliable delivery capacity, which can only be found among many small farmers. Instead of cash, they provide credit guarantees to the bank for the loan. This means that the cooperative movement received credit guarantees rather than cash, and therefore the issuers of these credit guarantees were responsible for repaying the loans to the banks. 　　This is a fairly new approach to financing, and banks, the scientific community, economic life, and **all still do not understand it. Therefore, the banks' reaction was gloomy. To dispel the banks’ concerns and enable them to lend to enterprises in the form of small cash amounts as equity, the cooperative movement invited banks to visit large farms that had sufficient capital to invest in things such as barns, livestock, and machinery – farms which were also the issuers of credit guarantees. Banks can determine that these large farms have sufficient value to cover most of the risks associated with lending to cooperative movements. With the passage of time, the bank received all the loans issued under credit guarantees, and it developed complete trust in the cooperative movement. 　　The bank therefore provides 100% equity financing. This is supported by facts regarding the increasing credit guarantees from consumers and traders, as they have identified the economic benefits that branches can obtain from new ways of financing through venture capital. However, the bank only accepts credit guarantees provided by cooperative sports organizations. The reason for doing this is that those who provide credit guarantees are required to meet and jointly decide which investment project to support. In this decision-making process, when planning projects and deciding which ones to support, there is an interesting conflict that needs to be resolved: the contradiction between producers who desire high prices and high profits, and consumers who want low prices. Each party must agree to the basic terms in order to obtain a loan from the bank. Thus, a policy of \"correct price\" was established and accepted by consumers and producers. 　　This has created an open atmosphere within the branches, facilitating the sharing of information on planned investments, even among direct competitors. This reduces the necessary losses in costly competition on the market \"battlefield\". To this day, Denmark remains one of the world’s largest exporters of food products, renowned for its reliable high quality and competitive prices. 　　The implementation of cooperative financing methods in China is, to a large extent, similar to the situation during the development of the cooperative movement described above in Denmark. In particular, a large number of small farmers face various constraints in integrating into China’s modern and efficient economy, which is the focus of development at this stage.