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Demeter International logo
Demeter International
Global · Tier 2 Trusted
BioGro New Zealand logo
BioGro New Zealand
New Zealand · Tier 1 Gold
Bio Suisse 'Knospe' (Bud) logo
Bio Suisse 'Knospe' (Bud)
Switzerland · Tier 2 Trusted
What it meansThe certification mark for biodynamic agriculture. Stricter than any government organic standard: it covers the entire farm as a closed ecosystem, follows a planting calendar tied to lunar/solar cycles, and bans many practices the baseline organic rules permit.New Zealand's largest organic certifier. Recognised by the EU, US, and Japan under their respective import-equivalence regimes.The Swiss organic farmers' federation mark. The Knospe (Bud) is the dominant organic mark in Swiss supermarkets and operates to standards stricter than the Swiss federal organic ordinance.
ScopeSeveral categoriesSeveral categoriesFood
Established192819831981
InspectionAnnual on-site by Demeter-accredited inspectorsAnnual on-site, IFOAM-accreditedAnnual on-site, bio.inspecta accredited
Residue testingRisk-based on top of organicRisk-basedRequired
Guarantees
  • All organic standards PLUS biodynamic preparations and whole-farm planning.
  • Whole-farm certification (not single fields/products).
  • Annual on-site inspection by Demeter-accredited inspectors.
  • Animal welfare standards stricter than baseline organic.
  • ≥95% organic ingredients.
  • No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs.
  • Annual on-site inspection.
  • Covers food, textiles, and personal care under separate standards.
  • Whole-farm conversion.
  • Lower nitrogen inputs than the Swiss federal organic baseline.
  • Strong animal welfare requirements.
  • Annual on-site inspection.
Does NOT
  • Biodynamic philosophy includes esoteric elements (lunar planting, herbal preparations) that many scientists view as non-evidence-based — the agronomic outcomes are still good, the underlying claims about cosmic forces are not testable.
  • New Zealand has no single legally-mandated 'organic' definition — voluntary certification is the norm.
  • Switzerland is outside the EU — the Knospe is recognised by the EU under the Switzerland-EU equivalence agreement, but not by USDA without further certification.

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