CERTIFICATION NEWSLETTER • NO. 3 • DECEMBER 2011

IN THIS ISSUE

• Certification Office• Cosmetics Certification • International Certification Meeting• Biodynamic Preparations• Quality Manual• Biodynamic Land Trust• Job opportunity• Product News• Demeter International Members Assembly• Forthcoming Events

We are very pleased to have two new members of staff. Raphael Rivera has joined us a Processing Certification Officer. Some of you may already know him; he has farmed at Tablehurst recently, and is still involved in the running of the processing operations and the farm shop there, so has experience of a wide range of processing. Gabriel Kaye recently started work in the Certification office. She will be assisting Angela Wilson with all day to day matters concerned with the running of the certification scheme. Angela is taking on other duties, and will be in the Certification office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Gabriel will be there on Wednesdays and Thursdays to help with your enquiries, so the office will be open at the same times as before, Monday – Thursdays, 9.30 – 5.00 pm.

• Certification Office

Contacts

General enquiriesAngela Wilson / Gabriel KayeCertification OfficePainswick Inn ProjectGloucester StreetStroudGlos GL5 1QGTel: 01453 766296Email: demeter@biodynamic.org.uk

Normal office hours: Monday - Thurs-day 9.30 – 5.00 pm

Production and Scheme manage-ment: Timothy BrinkEmail: timbrink@biodynamic.org.uk

Processing, packing, distribution and import: Richard SwannEmail: rswann@biodynamic.org.uk

Production Certification Officer: Lucy JonesEmail: lucyjones@biodynamic.org.uk

Processing Certification Officer: Raphael RiveraEmail: raphaelrivera@biodynamic.org.uk

Demeter and Organic Certi� cation

www.biodynamic.org.uk

• Certification for Natural Health and Beauty Products - Lucy Jones

We are very excited to be able to offer ‘Natrue’ certification from January 2012, being the first accredited ‘Natrue’ certifiers within the UK. Organic and natural health and beauty products is an extremely fast growing sector, not only for processors but also for primary producers who may be able to tap into the lucrative market for certified natural raw materials. ‘Natrue’ certification is very much in keeping with our biodynamic ethos. We really like the transparency and honesty of ‘Natrue’ and it is also impressive that as a brand it is already very well established with lines such as

Dr Haushka, Weleda and Lavera being already certified with them in Europe. It makes much more sense to offer ‘Natrue’ certification which is already closely linked to Demeter certification, than to develop our own cosmetic standards from scratch. Primary producers need not be left out of this fast growing area. Raw materials are a big part of this and Natrue are interested in certifying producers of herbs, seeds, oils, nuts, apple pectin, oatmeal and other natural products which are used in health and beauty products. Existing licensees will be able to join the scheme at a special preferential rate so do get in touch with either Richard Swann or myself if you are interested. Products and raw materials which are awarded the ‘Natrue’ logo will be listed on the ‘Natrue’ website which is referred to by buyers and processors looking for products and raw materials which will be certified and trustworthy. This is a great way of getting your product to a very wide market!

For the past few years Demeter International has held a certification meeting. This is a chance for those of us who operate Demeter Certification bodies to discuss the details of how we apply the standards and make certification decisions. This meeting compliments the annual Demeter International Members Assembly which agrees standards and works on broader strategic matters. Richard Swann has attended the Certification meeting in the past, and I attended this year. The meeting was held in Germany at the end of June after the Members Assembly. Many issues were discussed ranging from polled cattle on biodynamic farms to approved ingredients for processing. Some of the key issues were:

• Assessment of preparation use. This of course is a particularly important area. We compared

notes on how this is done in various countries. We do rely to some extent on our trust in your integrity as biodynamic farmers and growers. But it is also important that we are able to verify the correct use of the biodynamic preparations when we carry out inspection visits.

• Demeter International is currently developing an international product database. This will allow processors to source ingredients both nationally and internationally. This is a major development needing a great deal of international coordination. We hope that it will be a real help to processors who wish to find sources of biodynamic ingredients.

• PPF and CMS seeds – we were given an overview of this method of seed production which is prohibited by the Demeter (but not the Organic) standards. We worked on ways to improve our information on which seeds are produced with PPF techniques. This is not so easy to find out. A lot of work has been done in Holland and Germany to the benefit of all. Please see the farming and gardening page of the BDA website for more information.

Of course much more was discussed in the course of the three day meeting. This report is a little taster to let you know that we are working with our international colleagues on these important issues.

Many of you make the biodynamic field spays, barrel preparation and some of the biodynamic compost preparations. We strongly encourage this, either on individual holdings or even better as part of a local biodynamic group. Those of you who do not have sufficient supplies of homemade biodynamic preparations can obtain them thorough the BDA office and website sales. Demand for preparations from the Biodynamic Association has increased substantially over the past years. Last year we received several large orders for horn manure and horn silica which unfortunately we were not able to fill. If you plan to order preparations from the BDA, I strongly encourage you to get your orders in early to be assured

of receiving the supplies you need. But as I said before, even better to make them on your farm or in your local group. The BDA is happy to provide guidance and support in making your own preparations. Please do contact us if we can be of help.

The Biodynamic Association Certification Schemes have a Quality Manual that contains information about the operation of the certification schemes including key procedures. Some key information in the Quality Manual that may be needed by Licensees is:

• Section 7 – application procedure

• Section 8 – inspection and certification procedure

• Section 9 – Licensees

responsibilities• Section 10 – testing

requirements• Section 11 – definitions of non

conformities• Section 12 - complaints,

disputes and appealsThe Quality Manual is available on the certification page of the BDA website. If any licensee requires a paper copy, please inform Angela or Gabriel in the certification office and they will send this to you.

• International Certification Meeting in Germany

• Biodynamic Preparations

• Quality Manual

News and updatesTimothy Brink

Important Change to Seed Derogations

If you have to request a derogation to buy non-organic seeds or plants, please send your request to Angela in the BDA Certification office (email: demeter@biodynamic.org.uk). Lucy is no longer the person for these, and it will slow up your derogation if she has to send it on to the office. Timothy will still be giving derogations for anything relating to farming and gardening, and Richard (Swann) will still handle processing derogations. Both derogation forms can be downloaded from the BDA web site, under Certification:http://www.biodynamic.org.uk/certification/introduction/demeter-certification/farming-and-gardening.html If you complete them on-line, please use Word as your working program, thank you.

• Derogations

certified fruits as well as organic and hedge row fruits. No sugar is used in the making of the cordials, which makes them ideal for those who want a sugar free drink.

More details: becky@tomorrowscordial.co.uk

One of the recent developments in the Biodynamic Association (BDA) is the establishment of a Biodynamic Land Trust (BDLT). This has been possible due to the very generous donation of seed money by a benefactor which has enabled Martin Large and team to get this going. With a mixture of this seed money, shares taken up by interested people / the local community and loans the BDLT hopes to develop a divers selection of farms and market gardens over the years.

The aim of the BDLT is to secure current and new biodynamic farmland in trust in perpetuity for affordable access for new farmers, for biodynamic agriculture, conservation and community connected, family farming. The benefits will be supporting farmers and growers to access land, conservation and preserving the countryside, supporting local food growing and developing community activity and involvement in local BD agriculture.

The first project for the BDLT is securing some 37 hectares for Tablehurst Farm in Forest Row. These fields have been leased to them by private individuals who are now selling them. The BDLT has come to an agreement to buy this land and is offering shares in this project. These shares can be sold back to the BDLT should you need your money (see the website www.biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk) or contact Gabriel Kaye (gabriel@biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk).

More projects are presenting themselves and will be announced in due course, if you have a need or ideas that connect to the BDLT aims, please do contact Martin Large, the project coordinator, he can be reached via the website or biodynamiclandtrust@gmail.com.

Development of farmers is another matter; the Biodynamic Agricultural College on the Emerson campus in Forest Row is catering for developing biodynamic farmers of all ages and providing an influx of potential for the future (website: www.bdacollege.org.uk).

The Biodynamic Association Apprenticeship scheme is working well for a good number of young and not-so-young learners and supporting the development of biodynamics across the country. If you are not involved and would like to be please contact Nir Halfon (nirhalfon@biodynamic.org.uk). It is by sharing what we know that the farmers of the future can grow.

Apart from the trainings at BDAC, the apprenticeships and the new online biodynamic growers training, there are always opportunities for CPD (that ubiquitous Continuous Professional Development). Both the BDA and the BDAC websites list events and short trainings where one can go and get an upgrade or an update on your training and enthusiasm, or you might like to branch out into new fields (such as getting into bee-keeping on your property, even a flat roof will do!). Also if you have skills and experience you would like to offer please consider offering a day or weekend course, on your farm, at BDAC or elsewhere or as part of a bigger BDA event.

If there is an interest it might be possible for the BDLT to offer seminars on local food network development, setting up a CSA or a local food coop and such like subjects. Let us know if you might be interested.

News and updates

Mortier’s Teas

A range of Demeter certified Mortier’s fine single estate Ceylon tea, responsibly-sourced from Sri Lanka, is now available in caddies and boxes throughout the UK. The tea is imported directly from Sri

• Product News

• Biodynamic Land Trust - Gabriel Kaye • New Certification Manager - Timothy BrinkTwelve years ago I stopped farming and took on the job of Certification Manager for the Biodynamic Association. That was in 1999 when Jimmy Anderson retired. There have been many changes in the past 12 years, but also much has remained the same including the continuing success of many well established biodynamic farms and market gardens across the UK. It is now time for me to step down as Manager of the Certification Scheme and pass on the privilege and responsibility of this work to someone new. This is in part because I have taken on many new responsibilities as Chief Executive of the Biodynamic Association. In addition, I am getting to a time of life where I would like to reduce my work for the Biodynamic Association to a part time position over the next year and once again have the time and opportunity to work on the land. So, we are advertising for a new person to do this important work for the certification scheme. This is a dual role of overall manager and also the standards and technical expert for farming and gardening. Please see our website for more information. We look forward to hearing from you if you would like to find out more about this opportunity to work for the Biodynamic Association. If you know of someone else who might be interested, please be sure to let them know.

Lankan plantations, which ensures that the tea industry and its workers benefit directly and fairly from every packet sold.

More details : www.mortierstea.com

Tom Morrow Cordials

Tom and Becky Morrow are new licensees who live near Totnes in Devon. They have created a large range of cordials under the brand name of Tom Morrow’s Cordials. The cordials are made from Demeter

Demeter InternationalRichard Swann

The annual Demeter International Members Assembly took place in June on a biodynamic farm/ community/ school and the oldest anthroposophical community in Löhland, near Fulda in Germany.

The Assembly was split into two parts:

OutingsThese were to:• Dottenfelder Hof – a well established biodynamic farm (43 years old) which has a bakery, creamery and shop.• Alnatura shop in Frankfurt to see Demeter products on sale• tegut Fulda: to see a large bakery and meat cutting plant• Kwalis Research Centre who made a presentation on their quality research work• Bingenheimer Saatgut AG – a major biodynamic seed company• Demeter Farm Altenschlirf – small community farm• Shops in Fulda – tegut supermarket, Denns (cut price organic supermarket) and a small shop, all to see Demeter produce and products on sale.

The theme of the Assembly was Demeter Quality and so we were asked to note down quality points during our outings.

Members Assembly MeetingNineteen countries were represented at the Assembly. These were Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, UK, USA plus representations from the International Certification Office, Demeter International office in Brussels and Agriculture Section in Dornach. Some are full members and some guest. Spain and Slovenia were accepted as new members.

We started by meeting in small groups where we shared developments in our countries. Some common threads appeared, for example: growing interest from vintners, farm succession, new ways of cooperation with organic bodies and new forms and structures in our organisations

Demeter QualityFrom the outings at the beginning of the week we had noted down some aspects of Demeter quality. These were worked up and developed in small discussion groups. At the end we came up with six points that were felt to be major factors for Demeter Quality:

1. Committed biodynamic farmer/producer & processor2. Gentle processing3. Nourishment for the whole being 4. Fairness5. Transparency 6. Environmental effects and developments (e.g. biodiversity, soil building)

The basis for all are the sensory qualities: freshness, colour, skin/surface characteristics, size/form, taste and shelf-life!!

This work will be continued at next year’s meeting. Each country has taken on to work on a couple of items further. We in the UK will look at the importance of gentle processing and the environmental effects with special reference to soil building. If you have anything that you would like to input into this work please contact the Certification Office.

Demeter Standards changesFifty Standard changes were on the table for voting. These ranged from purely editorial to some significant ones. This has resulted in a revised version

of the all the Standards which will come into force in June 2012. Please see the Biodynamic Association website for full details.

If you have any suggestions for Standards changes please contact Timothy Brink or Richard Swann.

Consolidated StandardsWork is under way to consolidate the Standards. A beginning has been made on the Production Standards, the results of which will be presented at the next Members Assembly.

Next meetingsNext year the Assembly will meet in Slovenia and the year after in the south of England.

FOR YOUR DIARY....

www.biodynamic.org.uk

1 - 4 February 2012Biodynamic Agricultural Conference - Forward to the Wellsprings. Biodynamic Agriculture - What is Essential? - Dornach, Switzerland

April 2012Grow your Garden with Biodynamics - with Monty Waldin

Autumn 2012Grow your Garden with Biodynamics – with Monty Waldin

2012Get to grips with Biodynamic Fruit and Grape Growing with Monty Waldin

• Demeter International Members Assembly

Dottenfeldenhof Members Assembly Demeter bread