This association was founded in 1979 as a community of regional producers and consumers in eastern Bavaria. In the meantime, it has become active in other German federal states as well. Still sets great store by regional business.

www.biokreis.de

Hans Müller, father of organic farming, was the driving force behind the founding of Bioland in 1971. The association has the most members by far and performs a great deal of the lobby work for organic farmers. It has a subsidiary in Southern Tyrol.

www.bioland.de

This association, founded in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 1991, closely sticks to the Deutscher Bauernverband (German Farmers' Association), and hardly differs from the EU organic regulation in terms of its own regulations. The member businesses mainly supply food retailers.

www.biopark.de

The Demeter association was founded in 1924 and comprises farmers and manufacturers who work based on the bio-dynamic method developed by Rudolf Steiner. They take cosmic rhythms into consideration and use special plant-based preparations. The guidelines are considered to be the strictest in the organic sector. Internationally active.

www.demeter.de

Most organic winegrowers from Germany are members of the Ecovin association founded in 1985. It encompasses strict regulations for grape crushing and pressing plants, as the EU organic regulation does not include any guidelines in this field. Many organic winegrowers produce award-winning first-class wines.

www.ecovin.org

The Gäa association founded in Saxony in 1989 is still focused on the newly-formed German states. It tries to strengthen regional structures and drive forward manufacturing of organic produce in Eastern Germany.

www.gaea.de

It was founded in 1982 by farmers who considered themselves to be practical and market-oriented. Today, it is the second largest organic association in terms of members. It also certifies breeding fish, wood and organic cosmetics. It is engaged on an international level and in the fair trade sector.

www.naturland.de