Organic vs. Biodynamic: What Is the Difference?

Kona Organic

Sep 26

3 min read

Updated: Oct 6

Both organic and biodynamic farms skip synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. The difference is that USDA Organic is a federal rulebook about what you can and cannot use, while Demeter Biodynamic is a farm management standard that treats the whole farm as one living system and adds requirements on top of organic.

Key takeaways

Organic is the base. Biodynamic requires organic compliance plus more.
Organic is a federal standard with many certifiers. Demeter is one organization with its own standard and inspection.
Biodynamic asks for farm generated fertility, a biodiversity set aside, and the biodynamic preparations.
Organic opens the widest market. Biodynamic is a premium label for specialty buyers.
Kona Organic works with both and can run both applications together.

USDA Organic

USDA Organic is a federal standard run by the National Organic Program. It sets rules for inputs, seed, buffers, handling, labels, and records. It requires a written Organic System Plan, a yearly inspection, and 36 months of land history free of prohibited substances. Any farm or business that sells more than $5,000 a year of product as organic has to be certified. Dozens of accredited certifiers can issue the certificate.

Demeter Biodynamic

Demeter certifies biodynamic farms around the world under its own standard. The farm is expected to:

Meet the organic rules first.
Generate most of its own fertility through compost and cover crops, with outside inputs limited.
Keep a share of the land as habitat for biodiversity.
Make or source the biodynamic preparations and apply them on a schedule, with logs.
Plan rotation, water, and pest control as one whole farm system.

Demeter runs its own inspection and reviews its own farm plan, separate from the organic certifier.

How they overlap

The records overlap almost completely. Input logs, harvest logs, sales, maps, and land history serve both. A farm that is already certified organic has most of the biodynamic paperwork done, and adds the fertility plan, the set aside, and the preparation logs.

Which one is right for you

If you want access to the widest market, start with USDA Organic. Stores, distributors, and exporters ask for it by name. If your farm already runs as a closed loop, and your buyers are specialty retailers, natural wine and coffee markets, or export customers who value the Demeter mark, biodynamic sets you apart. Ask your buyers before you decide. Kona Organic will tell you plainly if your market does not ask for it.

Talk it through

Kona Organic's team is IOIA trained and Demeter approved, and writes organic and biodynamic plans that agree with each other.

Kona Organic is a national organic certification consulting firm, headquartered in Hawaiʻi. The team works with farms, handlers, and food brands in all 50 states and US territories, on site or remotely, and with exporters overseas.