About downy mildew and powdery mildew

More difficult than practicing biodynamics is certainly being credible. Credibility is hard to preserve when around there are those who not only practice biodynamics but also claim to perform miracles. One of the miracles promised by false prophets concerns what can be used to protect vineyards, as an alternative to copper and sulfur.

It would certainly not be necessary to replace copper and sulfur in biodynamic vineyards, because the copper we use is in very low amounts, does not accumulate in the soil, and is a microelement essential for life. We do not presume to have reached the ultimate goal of biodynamic practice, but we have some certainties: to date, it is not possible to protect vineyards from fungal diseases in biodynamics (much less in organic or non-synthetic agriculture, however one wishes to call it) without the use of copper and sulfur.

Many trials have been underway for some time to demonstrate the contrary, but to date no legally employable active principle allows for safe, repeatable, and reliable results. Even products difficult to use due to high costs have proven unreliable.

We are at the beginning of a new season of vine cultivation and protection, and we therefore renew our appeal: WE INVITE ALL THOSE WHO MANAGE TO PROTECT THEIR VINES USING PRODUCTS OF VARIOUS TYPES AND NATURE, WITHOUT COPPER AND SULFUR, TO SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO SCIENTIFIC VERIFICATION AND TO SHARE THEIR FINDINGS.

Our way of working aims to make biodynamic practice accessible to all, whereas those who spread nonsense may aim to undermine attempts to expand biodynamics. By doing so, the credibility of biodynamics is undermined, causing economic damage to farms, while also feeding the rhetoric of “scientific' detractors affiliated with the synthetic chemical industry, who preach its indispensability for obtaining healthy and abundant agricultural products.

WHAT WE PROPOSE

The verification method we propose is very simple:

1. Whoever claims to do without copper and sulfur should leave part of the vineyard untreated (a few plants are enough, covered with a tarp during each treatment);

2. When this control plot is affected by disease, contact us;

3. We will come not only to scientifically verify, with repeated surveys, that while the control plot is affected by disease, there are no harmful diseases in the vineyard TREATED WITH ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS BUT WITHOUT COPPER AND SULFUR;

4. We will also perform, at our expense, a multi-residue analysis on parts of the plant.

If this proves repeatable across space and time (2–3 years), we will be happy to announce to the whole world that we can do without copper and sulfur in the vineyard, using ONLY NATURAL PRODUCTS instead. Until this is verifiable, anyone claiming otherwise is irresponsible, and perhaps a charlatan.

Finally, a recommendation: verify whether those practicing biodynamic agriculture and giving advice are qualified technicians. This is not an absolute guarantee of competence, but a useful first filter (this can be checked on online professional registries).

Then evaluate whether it is better to use slightly less copper relying on products designed to penetrate the plant with the active copper principle, or slightly more copper in a formulation that remains outside the plant.

Clearly, we have encountered “biodynamic consultants” who cannot distinguish downy mildew from powdery mildew, and others convinced that copper alone is not enough, and that only systemic treatments are necessary; we have also met farmers who not only do not know biodynamics but “skip it” before even starting, attracted by more “marketable” labels like naturopathy or who knows what else—though these are certainly extreme cases.

In conclusion:

Whoever claims that there is a valid method using milk, whey, dairy derivatives, or fermented products (even non-dairy), effective, safe, reliable, and repeatable: IS LYING.

Whoever claims that there are commercial microbial consortia under various brands capable of making copper treatments unnecessary and guaranteeing valid and repeatable results: IS LYING.

Whoever claims that clays, herbal teas, macerates, extracts, and miraculous mother tinctures can replace copper and sulfur: IS LYING.

Even though research is ongoing on these matters, TO DATE THERE IS NO CERTAIN AND VERIFIED METHOD, ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF COPPER AND SULFUR, CAPABLE OF GUARANTEEING REPEATABLE RESULTS.