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Demeter International logo
Demeter International
Global · Tier 2 Trusted
Korea Organic logo
Korea Organic
South Korea · Tier 1 Gold
Bio Suisse 'Knospe' (Bud) logo
Bio Suisse 'Knospe' (Bud)
Switzerland · Tier 2 Trusted
Rainforest Alliance logo
Rainforest Alliance
Global · Tier 3 Specialty
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.South Korea's national organic mark under MAFRA (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs). Required on any food sold as 유기농 in Korea.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.Sustainable-agriculture certification (post-2020 merged standard with UTZ). Covers environmental, social, and economic criteria. NOT an organic mark.
ScopeSeveral categoriesFoodFoodFood
Established1928200119811987
InspectionAnnual on-site by Demeter-accredited inspectorsAnnual on-site by MAFRA-accredited certifierAnnual on-site, bio.inspecta accreditedAnnual third-party audit (RA-accredited)
Residue testingRisk-based on top of organicRequiredRequiredRisk-based
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 by a MAFRA-accredited certifier.
  • Whole-farm conversion.
  • Lower nitrogen inputs than the Swiss federal organic baseline.
  • Strong animal welfare requirements.
  • Annual on-site inspection.
  • Reduced (not eliminated) synthetic pesticide use, with bans on the most hazardous classes.
  • Forest conservation requirements (no deforestation after the cut-off date).
  • Worker welfare and community development requirements.
  • Annual third-party audit.
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.
  • Cosmetics and textiles are covered under separate Korean schemes, not this mark.
  • 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.
  • Allows synthetic pesticides — does NOT meet any organic standard. Often confused with organic but it's a different programme.

Choose up to 4 (4 chosen)

That's four — remove one to add another.

  • ACO
  • Bio-Siegel
  • BioGro
  • Canada Organic
  • China Organic
  • EU Leaf
  • India Organic
  • JAS
  • Korea Organic
  • Ø-mærket
  • Orgánico Argentina
  • Orgánico SAGARPA
  • SisOrg
  • Tún
  • USDA Organic
  • AB France
  • Bio Suisse
  • Bioland
  • COSMOS
  • Debio
  • Demeter
  • Ecocert
  • Fair for Life
  • GOTS
  • IBD
  • IFOAM
  • Kilimohai
  • KRAV
  • Luomu
  • NASAA
  • NATRUE
  • Naturland
  • OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton
  • ROC
  • Soil Association
  • EU Ecolabel
  • Fairtrade
  • Non-GMO Project
  • Nordic Swan
  • OEKO-TEX 100
  • Rainforest Alliance
  • 'Natural'

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