1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Interactive Soil Quality assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural productivity and Environmental Resilience (EU-iSQAPER)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Agrochesmistry and Environment Department, University Miguel Hernandez (UMH) - Spain

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

05/05/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Biodynamic farming is a method of farming that aims to treat the farm as a living system, based on the application of specific organic preparations which stimulate the natural functions of the farm soils and provide the necessary component towards a self-sustaining agro-ecological farm management.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Biodynamic farming is a method of farming that aims to treat the farm as a living system, biodynamic farming consists of a holistic, ecological and ethical approach based on organic preparations towards the objective of soil as self-sustaining agro-ecosystem. The aim of Biodynamic fertility management is to generate a farm’s fertility from within the farming
system itself rather than importing inputs from the outside. This generally involves the recycling of raw organic materials generated on the farm with the goal of developing soil humus and the related biological activity that such a process ignites. A distinguishing feature of Biodynamic agriculture is the use of nine preparations made from herbs, mineral substances and animal manures that are utilized in field sprays and compost inoculants applied in minute doses, much like homeopathic remedies are for humans. Originally described by Rudolf Steiner in a series of lectures on agriculture, these Biodynamic preparations are numbered 500 – 508. Generally, this approach aims to establish biodynamic agricultural management in flat peaches orchards and keep environmental sustainability in Jumilla, Murcia region (Spain).

Its specific objectives:
(1) To enhance the biodynamic agricultural production in the region and worldwide.
(2) To improve the quality of soil and soil fertility.
(3) To develop the orchard to self-sustaining agro-ecosytem.
(4) To improve product quality and market opportunities.
(5) To obtain organic food consumer demand worldwide.


Stages of implementation:
(1) Inherited a conventional orchard and changing the agricultural management to more sustainable practices,
(2) Getting eco-labelling to sale organic food product in European markets,
(3) Constant improvement and maintenance practices to improve soil fertility and productivity,
(4) Changing to biodynamic agricultural land and obtain the certification to sell the product worldwide,
(5) and monitoring and evaluation including operation and maintenance.


Role of stakeholders:
Demeter (International organization in biodynamics agricultural management)
1. Orchard certification.
2. Provide technical support and assistance in biodynamic agricultural management maintenance.
Family organization
1.Support in orchard production
Miguel Hernandez University
1. Assessment in soil physical-chemical and biological properties.
Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS) research center
1. Soil quality evolution and innovative irrigation technics.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• recent local initiative/ innovative

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

Achieve to a self-sustaining agro-ecosystem.
Improve the quality of soil.
Improve soil fertility.
To enhance in product quality.
To obtain organic food consumer demand worldwide.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	self-mobilization	http://www.frutasvargas.com/ The land user had the motivation to change his organic farming management to biodynamic.
planning	external support	The land user asked Demeter to receive specific recommendation to establish biodynamic agricultural management.
implementation	external support	The land user implemented the approach with the external support of Demeter in order to certified the biodynamic production.
monitoring/ evaluation	external support	Demeter, Miguel Hernandez university and CEBAS-CSIC help the land user to maintain the biodynamic production and evaluate the soil quality.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Ja

Specify who was trained:

• field staff/ advisers

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas

Subjects covered:

University students groups visit the fruit orchard to learn about biodynamic agricultural management.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Ja

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Two times per year Demeter advisors visit the fruit orchard to evaluate the biodynamic agricultural management.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• regional
• national

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

1ª FERIA DE AGRICULTURA BIODINAMICA DE ALBACETE (29 de abril de 2017)

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Ja

Comments:

MST advisor

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Nee

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Ja

Specify topics:

• economics / marketing
• ecology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

CEBAS-CSIC is a national research institution that used this biodynamic orchard to irrigation innovatives technologies.
http://www.cebas.csic.es/dep_spain/riego/riego_publi_2017.html

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Nee

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• paid in cash

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Ja

Specify conditions (interest rate, payback, etc.):

individual bank loan

Specify credit providers:

Bank

Specify credit receivers:

Frutas Vargas

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Nee

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

The farmer implement the approach with a great deal of difficulty, for example, money constraints as the certification is too expensive or other difficulties, the biodynamic preparations are difficult to apply and the Demeter certification is so expensive to maintain.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improvement in crop production and sales oportunities
Sustainable farming improves the plant function and response against plagues
greater social recognition and money income

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reduction of soil degradation
Enhancement of soil fertility

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
The implementation process requires a excessive investment of money	More production to overcome this costs.
Exhaustive training in biodynamic management to implement this practice	More practice in the biodynamic preparation is needed.
Exhaustive external control to be validate as biodynamic agricultural management	The land user make external links with research institutions in soil quality evolution.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Short response times against weather problems

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

no

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Web page

URL:

http://www.frutasvargas.com/