1. History
We arose in 1984 with the name of Instituto Biodinâmico de Desenvolvimento Rural (IBD) when a group of anthroposophists, looking for applying in practical the teachings of Anthroposophy in Brazil, decided to face the challenge of adapting Biodynamic Agriculture to tropical conditions through research, courses and publications. At this time, we were part of the Charitable Tobias Association.
The activity of organic and biodynamic certification (Demeter label) was initiated in 1991, and had a so great growth that it started to canalize all our energies in detriment of the other so important areas of performance of the organization.
In 1995 we created the Brazilian Biodynamic Agriculture Association and we became independent of Tobias Association, with the mission to foment Biodynamic Agriculture in Brazil.
 In 1996 the Association received the SARD award of prominence as an institution of promotion of organic agriculture in the International Conference of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements).
In 1999, in a courage act, because certification was the activity that generated more income for the organization, it was decided to establish another institution to take care exclusively of certification. It have arisen the Certification Association Instituto Biodinâmico (IBD) and the Brazilian Biodynamic Agriculture Association. We have abandoned certification and we started to fortify the advisory and technical assistance in biodynamic agriculture.
In 2000 we decide to prioritize the advisory for groups of small holder farmers for believing that together with this public our mission really would be fulfilled, and for the importance of the social work that we could carry through. We started then to search partners to finance the activity.
In 2003, worried about the market for agricultural products produced by familiar farmers we have created in the Association a group of commercialization of biodynamic products, with the function to study and to trace commercialization strategies. Through the work of this group, in the end of 2005 we inaugurated our first selling point, the Santo Amaro fair, where familiar farmers of Maria da Fé, Gonçalves and Sapucaí Mirim in Minas Gerais state; and Botucatu in São Paulo state, sell directly their products to the consumers.
In 2006 we were finalist of the award Social Enterpriser Ashoka/McKinsey Foundation.
In 2005 we carry through one workshop of three days, where our mission, vision and values had been reevaluated:

With this vision, the Biodynamic Association is publicly compromising itself to be professional in what it does, a way that must be trod by a coherent and integrated team, stimulated for the respectful companionship with the diversity, both internal as external, in order to foment a way to make biodynamic agriculture without wounding its principles, but that it is social, economic and ecologically viable, through which it expects to favor the integral development of the human being in the planet.
What motivates all people that work in the Association, of the Direction to the employees, it is the belief and certainty of biodynamic agricultural model works the culture of the land and the food production respecting all the flows of the nature, and that this work can transform the life of many farmers, mainly the ones that do not have access to technologies of the conventional model. What moves them to continue are the satisfaction and the rescue of auto-esteem of the farmers that are forgotten in isolated areas of the country.

2. Activities:

Demonstrative area- the area of the Biodynamic Association is pioneering in Brazil in the development of Agro forestry systems in alleys (Alley cropping). It has an intense work in the reconstruction of the landscape, originally degraded. The Biodynamic Association also developed the technology of green manure cocktail mainly used by all chains of organic agriculture. Constantly it has received visits from groups of farmers, agronomy and forestry students. The area is also used for the Basic Course of Biodynamic Agriculture. Currently it keeps a productive area of vegetables, medicinal plants, milk, cattle and honey.
 

Research - During the last years some research had been carried through, also thesis of master science and doctorate in partnership with Agronomy Universities, focused mainly in comparisons of organic, biodynamic and conventional systems and in agro forestry systems. It participates of the Program of Conservation of the Remainders of the Open pasture in the State of São Paulo, coordinated by the State Secretariat of Environment.

Biodynamic preparations – Basic tool in the biodynamic agriculture, the Association produces biodynamic preparations in large-scale to take care of an increasing demand of interested producers, besides teaching the farmers to produce its proper preparations in specific courses.

Courses- Carried through in partnership with the Association ELO and University of Uberaba, the Basic Course of Biological-Dynamic Agriculture is recognized the federal ministry of education and culture in the level of post-graduation latu sensu. Also we realize small courses for groups of familiar agriculturists and training of advisors. Every two years we realize the Brazilian Conference of Biodynamic Agriculture. This year happened the VII Conference, with the subject "Rescue, Production and Conservation of Endogen Seeds" in Maria da Fé, Minas Gerais State, with the total involvement, in the coordination and planning of the event, of the small holder farmers of this region.

Publications - the Biodynamic Association has edited throughout its history several brochures with excellent subjects. In partnership with the University of São Paulo it has edited Annals of two Biodynamic Agriculture Conferences and it has edited books that deal with the principles and practice of biodynamic agriculture. Annually it publishes the Agricultural Astronomical Calendar, an important tool for producers, and semester the Magazine Biodynamic Agriculture that is distributed to producers gratuitously.

Demeter standards – the Biodynamic Association is responsible for the elaboration of the production standards of Demeter label quality, certified by the Certification Association Instituto Biodinâmico (IBD).

Quality Laboratory - the quality laboratory works imaging forming methods. Through this method we can compare the quality of conventional, organic or biodynamic food origin, cultivated in the same ecosystem.

Advisory- exists since its foundation, but it was fortified in 1999 and since 2000 we prioritize groups of small holder farmers. Since then we have develop innumerable projects, acting in 11 states in diverse Brazilian ecosystems with resources of Governmental institutions, Foundation Soft-AG and Tobias Association (ABT), benefiting approximately 700 farmers. Main nuclei: Chapada Diamantina in Bahia, Ceará, Rondônia and South of Minas Gerais. We also offer private advisory in all domestic territory.

Support to the commercialization of biodynamic products - the commercialization group argues, considers and executes concrete actions for selling products generated by familiar agriculture. Of these activities, the only that generate financial income are publications and biodynamic preparations, that are sold to interested parties. The rest can only be realized through financial support of Tobias Association and partnerships with Governmental institutions, Foundation Soft-AG, beyond eventual supports of State University institutions for the research work.

Our aims are reached thanks to the work of a group composed by -  8 employees, 5 directors, a deliberative council with 10 members, 70 associates, 30 independent advisors and the recognition of financial partners.

We are located in Botucatu, São Paulo, in a small farm of 25 has situated in district Demétria, with riparian forest preserved and native open pasture spots. Our headquarters possess 6 rooms of offices, a library and conference room, a room for guest, a shed for activities of the small farm and for the elaboration of biodynamic preparations.