Mon, 17 Mar 2008

Grain shortage forces Demeter to allow non-bio-dynamic organic varieties

By Michæl Olbrich-Majer

DARMSTADT (NNA) – A shortage of bio-dynamically grown grain due to the bad harvest last year has forced the bio-dynamic certification organisation Demeter to permit corn from other controlled organic production to be added to certain Demeter products.

The use of such grain must, however, be stated on the packaging. This exceptional measure has been introduced for a limited period until sufficient Demeter grain is available again. Producers wishing to use non-bio-dynamic organic grain must apply to Demeter in Darmstadt to do so.

This measure does not represent a change in the Demeter Association’s guidelines and reflects the fact that neither in Germany nor in any other part of the world is there sufficient Demeter grain on the market to safeguard production of one hundred percent Demeter bread or muesli until the next harvest.

As a consequence, the organisation’s supervisory board introduced this emergency measure because it was feared that if such products were no longer available in the shops it would be extremely difficult to get them back on the shelves again once the situation was normalised. The result would be a shrinking market for Demeter farmers and manufacturers. The Association cannot afford to take such a risk.

The shortage of grain resulting from last year’s bad harvest exacerbates a situation in which there is a general shortage of farms converting to bio-dynamic production. In contrast to many other organic products, Demeter does not normally allow the partial use organic goods.

The decision to make such an exception has been subject to some criticism but has the unanimous support of all the Demeter management bodies, including the certification council, the board, the supervisory board and Demeter International.

This is not the first time that such a measure has had to be taken and it has been possible previously in individual cases to add up to thirty percent ordinary organic products to Demeter goods if such a move served to develop a market for a specific product and it was clear that there would be a move to one hundred percent bio-dynamic ingredients.

The reason for this is that agricultural output cannot simply be raised from one day to the next in the way that the production of industrial goods, for example, can be increased.

The Demeter Association is currently undertaking a series of measures to prevent such shortages from happening in future. Thus all Demeter manufacturers have been encouraged to conclude long-term contracts with their suppliers to safeguard the supply of raw materials. An intensive campaign to persuade more farmers to convert to bio-dynamic cultivation is another attempt to satisfy the growing demand.

It is not thought that many products will be affected by this exceptional measure.

END/nna/cva

Michæl Olbrich-Majer is the editor of the bio-dynamic journal Lebendige Erde

Item: 080317-01EN Date: 17 Marc h 2008

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