Non-certified biodynamic approaches
The main 'new' development of Biodynamic agriculture has been in the use of homeopathic techniques for preparing and applying the preparations. This work is developed from initial work by Drs. Eugen and Lily Kolisko based upon Dr. Rudolf Steiner's instructions.
The principle certifying organization for biodynamic agriculture is called Demeter International, and they as yet are to come to a full acceptance of this methodology.
In the U.S. therefore, an opposing movement led by Hugh Lovel and Greg Willis have opted out of the Demeter system.
Glen Atkinson who has been researching homeopathic Biodynamics since 1980, has had his homeopathic preparations allowed in New Zealand Demeter system, and they are presently being assessed by Demeter UK for the UK /EU market.
Willis and Lovel use the terms 'Steiner's Agriculture' and 'Quantum Agriculture', respectively, rather than 'biodynamics'. Atkinson's approach is known as Garuda Biodynamics. In these systems the farmer uses appropriate homeopathic dilutions to treat and heal the farm organism.
Greg Willis has developed new Steiner-like preparations including four versions of Horn Clay, Horn Basalt, Horn Sulfur, Horn Copper and the Comfrey Preparation. They are prepared in the same manner as Horn Manure (now Horn Humus) and Horn Silica (now called Horn Quartz). The Comfrey Preparation is made in the same manner as the Stinging Nettle Preparation. Greg Willis and Hugh Lovel have advocated including Horn Clay as one of the essential preparations. The other new preps are used to treat various imbalances and guide the growth of plants and crops. Greg Willis has now created 44 variations of Dr. Steiner's remedies. He claims this now gives the grower nearly complete control over diseases, insects, yield, quality, cost and profit.
The remedies created by Glen Atkinson contain the original Steiner preparations, and are then diluted in the traditional homeopathic manner with alcohol. The Atkinson remedies, focus mainly on plant growth control and large pest control eg cats, possums and birds. The Atkinson BD remedies are the only remedies of the three, to have gained third party verification of their action, through replicated trials done by HortResearch in New Zealand.
Those advocated by Hugh Lovel are prepared radionically on paper or sugar tablets. Greg Willis' preparations are made in purified spring water solutions which he believes are more compatible with plants than alcohol, sugar or paper.
An Opposition Viewpoint to Radionics, Field Broadcasters or Cosmic Pipes
Field Broadcasters or "Cosmic Pipes" have been described as: These are static units in which BD preparations are placed. Their beneficial effects are supposedly "broadcast" over the property. The Biodynamic preparations (apart from the concentration of "life forces" which researchers have suggested as a partial explanation of their unique effectiveness), are very concentrated sources of microbes. These microbes are a significant part of their ability to transform soils. Not one of these microbes touches the soil when "field broadcasters" are used. Nor does the so-crucial activation of stirring take place. (SOURCE: Biodynamic Growing No. 2, June 2004, The Biodynamic Farming Association of Australia, p. 4)
"Alex Podolinsky describes three levels in nature: the SUPER-physical (the etheric or life-forces realm), the physical (eg lightning, water), and the sub-physical (electricity, magnetism and atomic fission). He places field broadcasters in the sub-physical level, between electricity and magnetism and states, "The use of any type of electricity, magnetism or "radionics" is of deadly opposition to Nature and the etheric forms used in Biodynamics. 'Results', changes can be achieved but to an experienced Biodynamic observer or to testing with suitable methods, these differ essentially to Biodynamic building." (Ad Humanitatem, p. 10)" As quoted in Biodynamic Growing No. 2, June 2004, The Biodynamic Farming Association of Australia, p. 4