The Rise of Alternative Farming Systems: Concept-Based AFS (Week 4)

Students from Ateneo de Manila University meet the Nu Wave Farmers UPLB.

While the aforementioned alternative farming systems (see Week 3) are based on methods or specific practices, concept-based systems such as regenerative agriculture and permaculture are frameworks and philosophies that focus more on landscape management, use of natural resources and commnity-building.

Another field is agroecology,which is closely related to permaculture. Not to be confused with ecoagriculture, agroecology is a branch of ecology that studies agricultural production systems regardless of method. This leads to more confusion because Ferguson and Lovell's study (2013), agroecology seems to imply a departure from the industrial method of agriculture. Permaculture, on the other hand, though regarded as concept-based, ties its principles and ethics tightly with those of organic agriculture. Ferguson and Lovell (2013) states:

"The transition to diversified, ecologically benign, smaller scale production systems is addressed in the literature of agroecology (DeSchutter, 2010), diversified farming systems (Kreme et al, 2012) and multifunction agriculture" (Wilson, 2008)

In another study by Haluza-DeLay and Berezan (2010), it describes permaculture as "[a] movement [that] increasingly concerns itself with the domains of alternative economy, natural building, energy systems, water systems, ecological restoration, community development, education and spirituality."

Next Week: Ecology for the Masses: Permaculture as Feral Ecology

References:

Ferguson RS and Lovell, ST (2013). Permaculture for agroecology: design, movement, practices and worldview -  A Review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, INRA and Springer-Verlag France 2013.

Haluza-DeLay R and Berezan, R (201). Permaculture in the city: Ecological habits and the distributed ecovillage. Localizing Environmental Anthropology : Bioregionalism, Permaculturem and Ecovillage Design for a Sustainable Future. Berghan Books.