29Oct
Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture
ORGANIC FARMING BASED ON ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES
Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture – Vegan from Field to Table
Welcome on the website of the Adolf Hoops Society and the International Biocyclic Vegan Network! Here you can find out about the principles of biocyclic vegan agriculture, the Biocyclic Vegan Standard, certified farms and processing companies, supply sources and the partner organisations working together in the International Biocyclic Vegan Network.
Biocyclic vegan agriculture means purely plant-based organic farming. This form of cultivation excludes all commercial livestock farming and slaughtering of animals and does not use any inputs of animal origin. Special emphasis is placed on the promotion of biodiversity, healthy soil life, the closure of organic cycles and on systematic humus build-up.
The fundamental principles for biocyclic vegan agriculture have been laid down in the Biocyclic Vegan Standard which has been applicable worldwide since 2017 as a global standard for vegan organic agriculture accredited by IFOAM.
A professional certification system and the Biocyclic Vegan Quality Seal offer consumers full transparency at all levels of the value chain and ensure that the products labelled with this seal have not only been grown organically, but also according to vegan principles.
Biocyclic vegan agriculture offers well-proven and practicable solutions to farms that are currently reaching their limits in terms of the environment, climate, animal welfare, health issues etc. and thus offers a perspective for a sustainable reorientation.
Although biocyclic vegan agriculture is still a young initiative, an increasing number of producers in various European countries is becoming certified. In addition, there are partners from the processing industry and trade who are committed to establishing a marketing structure for biocyclic vegan products. Products from biocyclic vegan agriculture can also be purchased from online shops.
Several regional and country organisations have been established throughout Europe to support this work and have joint their forces in the International Biocyclic Vegan Network.
Read more about the Biocyclic Vegan Standard, the certification system, the Biocyclic Vegan Quality Label, scientific research and the general background of biocyclic vegan agriculture.
News / Recent Press Articles
Events
New Biocyclic Vegan Farmers and Partner Companies
Biohof Rietzler
The organic family farm Biohof Rietzler in Bavaria (Southern Germany) has been growing its products (ancient grains such as emmer, einkorn and spelt, as well as potatoes) veganically for many years. They are now preparing for biocyclic vegan certification.
Mark van Hove
The first farm certified biocyclic vegan in Belgium, producing edible flowers, herbs, sweet potatoes and other vegetables (including ginger and turmeric).
Château Puybarbe
Château Puybarbe is a high-quality wine-producing estate in the Bordeaux wine region in France. It is preparing for biocyclic vegan certification and will soon be permitted to use the Biocyclic Vegan Quality Seal.
L’Acadie Vineyards
Organic winery in Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada. It became certified in October 2021 as the first biocyclic vegan operation in North America!
Northwood Farm
Northwood Farm is a former beef and dairy farm in Dorset/England that is transiting to veganic cereal growing and preparing to become certified according to the Biocyclic Vegan Standard in November 2021.
Vegan-ab-Feld
The new Online-Shop “Vegan-ab-Feld” created by the very first biocyclic-vegan certified fruit farming enterprises from the Lake Constance region in South Germany is now available and offers tasty self-made apple juice as well as fruit boxes from biocyclic-vegan certified farms in Greece.
Zonnegoed
Organic vegetable farm in Flevoland, the first operation in the Netherlands certified according to the Biocyclic Vegan Standard
DOUKISSA Organic Products from Greece
Online shop in Germany with their own olive cultivation certified biocyclic vegan in Greece
Villands Vånga Veganträdgård
Small scale veganic farm and centre for veganic farming education in Sweden supplying market vegetables to local consumers and restaurants, preparing for biocyclic vegan certification
PlanetVegFoods– Acajú the cashew campaign
Import Company and online shop in Germany for cashew nuts from Brazil and other products, soon to be certified biocyclic vegan
Proverbio
Olive grower and olive oil production in Sicily – the first biocyclic vegan operation in Italy
Who is who in biocyclic vegan farming
With this brochure, we are pleased to present an initial compilation of producers, processing companies, traders and organisations that are already actively involved in biocyclic vegan farming. Though it is still early days, the variety of operations named on the following pages shows the great potential of biocyclic vegan farming.
Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture is good for ...
… CLIMATE
By consistently refraining from keeping livestock for commercial purposes and slaughter and from using fertilisers of animal origin, and instead by using purely plant-based high-quality compost or even biocyclic humus soil with its high CO2 binding capacity, biocyclic vegan agriculture makes an effective contribution to climate protection.
… WATER
By dispensing with livestock farming and the use of animal manure, any nutrient surpluses in the production cycle are effectively eliminated. In addition the use of mature compost of plant-based origin and biocyclic humus soil, which is characterised by a physiologically stable molecular structure, can greatly reduce leaching, e.g. of nitrate. Both of these factors can contribute to an improvement in groundwater quality and help to counteract the eutrophication of surface waters.
… SOIL
Biocyclic vegan agriculture implies the preservation and/or regeneration of natural soil fertility. This is achieved by a high supply of organic matter in various forms such as green manure, mulching, the spreading of mature purely plant-based compost and the extensive use of biocyclic humus soil, which protects the soil from erosion and dehydration, significantly binds CO2 and stimulates the formation of permanent humus.
… BIODIVERSITY
The establishment of a natural ecological balance is an important principle for preventive plant protection and the promotion of biodiversity. Biodiversity rises significantly on areas cultivated according to the biocyclic vegan principles, which is achieved through wide crop rotations, systematic mixed cultivation, a careful and diversified tilling of the soil, the planting of hedges and flower strips as well as the creation of habitats within the farm area.
… HEALTH
Owing to the absence of animal husbandry for commercial use and slaughter, the risk of contamination by drug residues from livestock farming (e.g. antibiotics) and by pathogenic, partly multi-resistant germs from liquid slurry and slaughter waste is significantly reduced in biocyclic vegan agriculture. Healthy soils contribute to human health through robust, vital plants rich in nutrients, according to the motto “from a healthy soil to healthy plants and healthy human beings”.
… ANIMALS
On biocyclic vegan farms, the keeping of livestock for slaughter and all kinds of commercial use, as well as the use of fertilisers and preparations based on slaughterhouse waste is prohibited in respect of the dignity of the animal. In addition, biocyclic vegan farmland not only provides ideal living conditions for billions of microorganisms in the soil, but also for many other wild animals such as birds and rare insects. This leads to a natural state of equilibrium above and below ground.
… GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
By systematically improving soil fertility, increasing productivity through the introduction of nature-like cultivation methods and a more efficient land use through the exclusive production of plant foods for human consumption (not for animal feed), biocyclic vegan agriculture can make a sustainable contribution to global food security.
… SMALLHOLDER FARMERS
Biocyclic vegan agriculture can make an important contribution to the development of predominantly smallholder agriculture in so-called developing countries as it provides local farms with methods for establishing a closed-loop economy that is capable of permanently increasing soil fertility through the use of locally available resources, thus also ensuring long-term, sustainable security of yields that are entirely derived from plant-based sources, without the need to become economically dependent on industrial fertiliser and pesticide manufacturers.
In order to find out more, please click on any of the goals listed or on the wheel.
Press Highlights
“We’re humus sapiens”: The farmers who shun animal manure
An article published in The Guardian in January 2019 presenting biocyclic vegan operations in Greece and learning about the stunning proprieties of biocyclic humus soil.
Podcast Pacific Roots Magazine
Featuring Dr. agr. Johannes Eisenbach
The podcast deals with the benefits of biocyclic vegan agriculture, as well as with the history of Biocyclic Vegan, challenges ahead in the next decade to increase global awareness of the efficiency & viability of humus soil for improved agricultural practices, consumer awareness, the applicability of these practices to a wide range of growing– from urban rooftops, small urban & community gardens to commercial farming.
The Secret to Farming for the Climate
Nicholas Carter takes a look at veganic and stock-free growing trends, myths, important reasons to shift to these methods of food production, successful examples of veganic farms, and more.
Article from “A Well-Fed World”
About Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture
The Vegconomist speaks to Anja Bonzheim, a representative of the German Association for the Promotion of Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture, about the advantages and current developments in biocyclic vegan farming and the work of the association.
Article from “Vegconomist”
Will 2020 be the Breakthrough Year for ‘Veganic’ Agriculture?
Until now relatively few vegans have probably given serious thought to the suggestion that the fruit and vegetables they eat might technically be “un-vegan”. But growing awareness about ‘veganic’ (or stockfree) agriculture could mean this is all about to change.
Article from “Natural Products Global”
Agenda
- We regularly participate in exhibitions, conferences and trade fairs in Europe. We also organise training seminars and workshops.
Come and meet us to discover the Biocyclic Vegan Standard and our network of farmers.
Upcoming events:
- new events coming soon
Previous events:
November 6th 2021 – VeggieWorld, Berlin, Germany (lecture on biocyclic vegan agriculture by Axel Anders)
November 2nd to 12th 2021 – Farmers for Stock-Free Farming (UK) representing Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture at COP26 in Glasgow
September 18th 2021 – Caring Farmers Food Camp at Biocyclic Vegan Farm Zonnegoed, Netherlands
October 1st-3rd 2021, Animal Rights Congress, Leipzig, Germany (lecture)
- July 24th 2021 – RAP Summit – Online Congress, Rancher Advocacy Program, USA
- June 1st-2nd 2021 – International Grow Green Conference – Online, SAFE Food Advocacy Europe, Brussels
March 12th 2021 – Webinar: How to Grow the Veganic Farming Movement, Seed the Commons
February 17-19th 2021 – Biofach eSpecial (exhibitor), virtual booth of BNS Biocyclic Network Services Ltd.
- April 21st 2020 – Webinar: The Biocyclic Vegan Quality Seal (in French)
- February 12-15th 2020 – BioFach, Nuremberg – Germany (exhibitor), Hall 4A-100 in the area of “Experience the World of Vegan”
- January 25th 2020 –Veggienale, Berlin – Germany (lecture)
- November 2-3rd 2019 – Heldenmarkt Bodensee, Lindau – Germany (exhibitor)
- October 20th – World Vegan Day – Frankfurt (exhibitor, lecture)
- October 20-22th 2019 – Natexpo, Paris – France (exhibitor)
- July 3-4th 2019 – Öko-Feldtage, Staatsdomäne Frankenhausen – Germany (exhibitor)
- June 5-7th 2019 – Training near Leipzig – Germany (workshop)
- March 23-24th 2019 – VeggieWorld, Berlin – Germany (lecture)
- February 19th 2019 – Training at Ravensburg – Germany (workshop)
- February 13-16th 2019 – BioFach, Nuremberg – Germany (exhibitor)
- February 8-10th 2019 – VeggieWorld, Wiesbaden – Germany (lecture)
- February 6-8th 2019 – Fruit Logistica, Berlin – Germany (exhibitor)
- January 23th 2019 – Biobeurs – Zwolle – The Netherlands (lecture)
