What does biodynamic mean?
"Biodynamic" describes a holistic approach to farming developed in the 1920s by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, who envisioned the farm as a closed, self-sustaining organism. Biodynamic growers shun synthetic fertilizers and pesticides like other organic producers, but go further: they use nine specially prepared herbal, mineral, and manure-based treatments, and time sowing, cultivating, and harvesting to astronomical rhythms such as lunar cycles. The adjective appears most often before nouns like farming, agriculture, wine, or vineyard, as in "a certified biodynamic vineyard." Certification bodies such as Demeter enforce strict standards, lending the term legal weight in food labeling. While its cosmological underpinnings strike some skeptics as unscientific, biodynamic methods have gained real commercial traction, especially in fine wine. The word therefore blends ecological seriousness with a touch of the esoteric, making it a distinctive marker in conversations about sustainable agriculture.
Of or relating to biodynamic agriculture, a holistic organic farming system using prepared sprays and astronomical planting calendars.
"The estate converted all forty hectares to biodynamic production last year."
Almost always used attributively, directly preceding a noun such as farming, wine, or vineyard.
Of or involving the dynamic forces characteristic of living organisms.
"Early twentieth-century biologists debated whether life could be explained purely in terms of biodynamic processes."
This broader sense is now rare and mostly historical.
Biodynamic winemakers literally bury cow horns stuffed with manure in their vineyards — and some of France's most prestigious wines swear by it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of biodynamic
"Biodynamic" derives from combining the Greek-derived element "bio-" (life, from bios) with "dynamic," from the Greek dynamikos via dynamis, meaning force or power. The compound was popularized in English through translations of Rudolf Steiner's agricultural lectures in the 1920s, which gave rise to what German speakers called biologisch-dynamische Landwirtschaft, or bio-dynamic agriculture. It shares its dynamis root with words such as dynasty, dynamite, and dynamo.
Related word forms
How biodynamic is actually used
The word is most strongly associated with agriculture and viticulture; it carries connotations of both environmental commitment and esoteric, sometimes controversial, spirituality. In wine marketing it signals premium artisanal production. The broader scientific sense referring to forces within living systems is largely historical.
Easily confused with biodynamic
Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, while biodynamic farming goes further by adding spiritual-cosmological practices such as herbal preparations and lunar planting calendars.