Various information found on food packaging these days can make supermarket aisles hard to navigate.
One question you might have is what is the difference between organic beef and lamb and biodynamic versions?
To be certified organic, there are certain criteria producers must comply with. For example, the use of chemicals must be minimal and rational. Farmers must also try to recycle and rely on biological cycles in the farming system where possible.
Biodynamic farming takes things a step further with a focus in traditional farming techniques as well as a desire to rely on universal or cosmic forces at hand in the environment.
An example of this is the timing used by these farmers to plant crops, as this is determined by the rhythm of the sun, stars and moon.
This practice is used by many certified organic lamb and beef producers who use only natural preparations on their farms.
Biodynamic farming is monitored and regulated under the same standard as Australian organic meat.
Here is a bit of background into the practices surrounding biodynamic meat production.
The movement was started by German scholar and philosopher Rudolf Steiner who emphasised the use of natural life forces including natural approaches to farming and food production.
He said a lack of focus on these natural ways of food production would have severe consequences for the human race.
Biodynamic farmers use compost preparations, including 500 and 501, rather than chemical ones to make the most of the soil levels already within the environment.
The 500 preparation or “prep” is made using cow manure and packed into cow horns and buried in the winter months. The theory behind this is that natural forces will draw healthful energies into the ground.
In the spring, the horns are uncovered and the prep is stirred with a machine to create vortexes. This helps to energise the solution which is then sprayed out on the farm.
The other prep these farmers use is 501 which helps light to reach the farming system. It is a silica product that helps the compost process. Farmers use varying amounts of this product depending on their own natural environment and how much sun their farm gets.
