Comparison of chemical composition and taste of biodynamically and conventionally grown vegetables

Abstract

From comparisons of the chemical contents of biodynamically and conventionally grown potatoes, carrots, beetroots and curly kale, the origin of the sample could not be established. A biodynamic quality determination of potatoes did not show any clear difference between crops cultivated by the two methods. The storage qualities of white cabbage did not show any difference connected with the two methods of cultivation, but conventionally grown cabbage had the heaviest heads. Organoleptic evaluation, under carefully defined laboratory conditions, resulted in the detection by a taste panel of statistically significant differences due to origin for a few samples, but the differences were so small that it must be considered improbable that they could be detected under normal practical conditions.