Introduction
In a recent BioPress feature, originally published in German (April 2026), Axel Anders, co-founder of Biocyclic Vegan International and a board member of the German Biocyclic Vegan Farming Association, shares insights into the growing movement of organic agriculture without animal husbandry. The interview explores how biocyclic vegan farming is redefining organic standards by eliminating animal inputs entirely and focusing on plant-based nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and soil health. It also highlights the introduction of the new V-Label Vegan Agriculture, developed in collaboration with Biocyclic Vegan International and Swissveg, aiming to bridge the gap between organic farming and vegan principles. Addressing current challenges, certification processes, and future market potential, the conversation offers a comprehensive overview of a pioneering approach that seeks to align agriculture more closely with ecological and ethical values.
An English translation of the original interview is provided below for international readers.
English Version:
Organic Farming Without Animal Husbandry
Can organic farming exist without livestock? In the biocyclic vegan farming approach, there is not only a complete absence of livestock, but also no use of animal-based inputs such as manure, slurry, or slaughterhouse by-products. Instead, the system focuses on plant-based nutrient cycles, diverse crop rotations, and the creation of a healthy soil ecosystem. Swissveg, the Swiss association behind the well-known V-Label for vegan products, has recently collaborated with the umbrella organization Biocyclic Vegan International to launch a new certification: the V-Label Vegan Agriculture. bioPress spoke with Axel Anders, a board member of the Biocyclic Vegan Farming Association, to learn more.
bioPress: Mr. Anders, how many products currently carry the V-Label Vegan Agriculture, and what is the idea behind it?
Axel Anders: The V-Label Vegan Agriculture is very new, so there are only a handful of certified farms in Germany and Switzerland at the moment. Once a farm is certified as biocyclic vegan, its products can carry the V-Label Vegan Agriculture. The idea behind the partnership is to combine biocyclic vegan expertise in organic farm certification with the market presence of the V-Label.
There is this imbalance: organic farmers are often very committed to animal husbandry, while vegans completely reject animal farming and tend to use conventional methods. We are aiming to bridge these two worlds, to provide the ‘missing link.’ After all, the vegan philosophy is about protecting both nature and animals. It doesn’t align with spraying glyphosate and destroying biodiversity, as is common in conventional agriculture. If someone wants to eat a vegan organic diet, it only makes sense to extend that thinking to the field as well.
bioPress: When did the biocyclic vegan standard come into being, and how many farms are already certified?
Anders: The Biocyclic Vegan International network was established about ten years ago. The Biocyclic Vegan Farming Association, responsible for the German-speaking countries, has been active since 2017. That’s when the Biocyclic Vegan Guidelines were submitted to the international organic umbrella organization IFOAM and officially recognized as a standalone standard within its ‘Family of Standards.’ This makes it the only globally recognized standard for vegan organic farming.
In Germany, there are currently six certified farms, but almost 40 farms worldwide are biocyclic vegan certified. Most of these farms are located in Greece and Cyprus, where a biocyclic network already exists that avoids animal husbandry. Some small farmers in the Mediterranean are also waiting for certification.
bioPress: How exactly does the certification process work?
Anders: It starts with preliminary discussions. The next step is the assessment of the so-called ‘Biocyclic Farm Index’ (BBI), which evaluates how well a farm integrates into its surrounding ecosystem. Does it provide sufficient habitats for wildlife? Are there buffer zones between the farm and conventionally managed fields? What is the farmer’s stance on animal husbandry? All of these factors are carefully examined, and a score from zero to ten points is assigned. A score of six or higher qualifies for certification as biocyclic vegan. If the score is lower, we provide recommendations for improvement.
Once certification is possible, the formal process takes place with an organic certification body. In Germany, several certification bodies have been trained in the biocyclic vegan standard and can assess the additional questionnaires required. Our own official certification body – the BVL Biocyclic Vegan Label Ltd. based in Cyprus – evaluates the results and issues the certificate. There is a fee associated with this, which depends on the farm’s size, but we aim to keep the fees as low as possible. The total cost for certification and inspection ranges from a few hundred to a thousand euros.
bioPress: What are the main tasks of the Biocyclic Vegan Farming Association?
Anders: Our primary goal is to increase the visibility of biocyclic vegan farming, advise farms, and support market development. Currently, much of the biocyclic vegan produce is marketed as regular organic produce. Additionally, many sales are made through direct marketing, online platforms like Crowdfarming, or the newly launched platform ‘Vegan Farmers’ that was introduced at Biofach.
One of our current objectives is to collaborate with processors to bring more biocyclic vegan products to the market. As demand grows in processing and trade, farmers will be more motivated to switch to biocyclic vegan practices.
Being able to say that an oat milk comes not just from organic farming, but also from vegan agriculture, is a powerful message to sustainability-conscious consumers, offering a unique selling point for producers, processors, and retailers.
We are currently in discussions with larger agricultural businesses that are transitioning to biocyclic vegan methods. This will soon result in large quantities of raw materials becoming available, opening up new possibilities for products like tofu, tempeh, hummus, falafel, or lupine-based cheese, all certified with the Biocyclic Vegan label and the V-Label Vegan Agriculture.
bioPress: How is the biocyclic vegan movement received within the agricultural and organic sectors?
Anders: Some of what I experience today within the biocyclic vegan movement reminds me of the early days of the organic scene, 50 years ago. Back then, there was significant resistance from conventional farmers. Today, we face skepticism particularly from organic livestock farmers who feel provoked by the vegan approach. Organic farming in Germany is often closely tied to animal husbandry. However, many organic farmers are already farming without livestock, and some are finding that animal husbandry no longer offers a viable future. Younger farmers who take over their family farms are also choosing to transition to vegan organic farming. This seems to be a generational issue.
bioPress: Animal-based fertilizers are prohibited in biocyclic vegan farming. What kind of fertilizers are used instead?
Anders: We use traditional organic farming methods: crop rotations, the cut-and-carry method with green manures, legumes, wood chips, mulch, and compost. Biocyclic vegan farming is not a new method, but rather a principle. It is also possible to purchase purely plant-based fertilizers.
Many of our farmers are not vegans themselves, but they want to move away from animal-based fertilizers like horn shavings and slaughterhouse by-products, which often come from conventional production and dreadful conditions. Despite the skepticism, our farms maintain good soil fertility and produce healthy yields.
bioPress: Are there scientific studies supporting the biocyclic vegan approach, and where do you see the need for further research?
Anders: Research is still in its early stages, but there is a large need for it. We’ve compiled existing scientific literature on our website. Some initial field trials on soil fertility are already yielding interesting results. For example, a long-term trial on legume fertilization in the Netherlands showed positive results.
For the Universities of Witzenhausen and Eberswalde, we developed a summer course on biocyclic vegan farming, with lectures and field trips. While professors often need to be convinced, there is a growing interest among students, and more and more theses are being written on the topic.
bioPress: Are you supported by politicians, and would you like more support?
Anders: Yes and yes. More projects need to be funded, but we have already received approval for some grants. For instance, the project ‘Vegan Organic Farming,’ funded by the German Federal Environmental Agency, aimed to increase the contribution of biocyclic vegan farming to the transformation of the food system through educational programs, network building, and improving certification structures.
Currently, a project under the Opportunities Program from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is underway, focusing on the protein shift. Workshops are being held on growing non-leguminous protein crops like walnuts, mushrooms, hemp, and quinoa. And a project under the RiWert program (a funding initiative for organic value chains) will soon start in Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony, with the aim of developing biocyclic vegan value chains from farm to trade and gastronomy.
bioPress: How do you assess the future demand for biocyclic vegan products?
Anders: I expect strong growth in demand in the future. Most people aren’t even aware of the issue yet, but when it’s communicated effectively, people become very interested. Many are already critical of animal husbandry. According to Gerold Rahmann, head of the Institute for Organic Farming at the Thünen Institute, truly sustainable, animal welfare-oriented livestock farming is economically unfeasible. Right now, demand is still low, but we are planting the seeds for the future.
Interview by Lena Renner