Biodynamic Agriculture is a “spiritual science” of organic farming that emphasizes the holistic development and interrelationships of the soil, plants and animals as a self-sustaining system. It incorporates sustainability, astronomical influences, organic methods and holistic practices to achieve excellence in carefully tended and maintained farm products, while leaving behind a much smaller organic footprint than traditional approaches. Although some of these methods have been practiced for many centuries, and some are relatively new in recent years, the significant definition we utilize today was begun in 1924 by Rudolph Steiner in Vienna, in response to local farmers’ concerns on results of chemical use in farming. Current farming in this method is considered by some to be “fanatical” in the attention to detail required. Biodynamic practices have been found to be more resilient to environmental and climactic changes, and to be more energy-efficient. Becoming certified as Biodynamic is achieved only through careful testing by Demeter International in France.