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Full Research Infographic

Our Progress so Far

How Many Permaculture Designers?

As of now, we have 47 permaculture designers in the database. We found them via the Permaculture Awareness Survey, Google and Facebook searches, existing databases such as the Permaculture Worldwide Network, referrals from friends and Facebook friends, and respondents from previous research. We were able to get in touch with 11 permaculture designers so far and they were able to answer the follow-up survey which will be used for the social network analysis. Hopefully we can connect with everyone by June 30. If you know someone please do continue to refer them to us by clicking here. 

Funding?

There's 72 days to go before the GoGetFunding campaign ends. Still a lot of time to get support from friends and people who just want to support the project. As of now, only Php 150 has been donated. It's not much. Probably people are having a hard time paying with PayPal or credit card.

You can deposit directly to my account if you want to help:

Jabez Joshua M. Flores

BPI Family Bank Los Banos Branch

Account Number: 5806-2873-44

Proposal Approval?

It's approved already, just today! We can now start applying for research grants. This will supplement the fund from the GoGetFunding campaign.

Possible Collaboration?

There's a possible collaboration with the UPOU Multimedia Center for Phase 4 of the project. Hopefully the proposal will be approved. 

What is Permaculture Research PH?

Permaculture Research PH is an independent research initiative. Our goal is to document and study permaculture designs in the Philippines for ecosystem restoration. 

Current Projects (2021-2022): 

• Mission Control to Automate Image Processing in Permaculture Sites (Jayson Osayan, CEAT-UPLB)
• Computer Vision-Based Change Detection of Time-Series Orthomosaics from Non-GPS Drones (Julius Victor Abril, CEAT-UPLB)
• Land Cover Change Detection of Permaculture Landscapes Post-Taal Volcano Eruption and Typhoon Odette 

Publications (2016-2021):

• An Inventory of Commonly Cultivated Plant Species in Permaculture Farms in the Philippines (2022)
• The Structure of Permaculture Landscapes in the Philippines (2021)
• Permaculture in the Philippines: Landscape Structure, Practices, and Perspectives (2020)
• Documenting Permaculture Farm Landscapes in the Philippines Using a Drone with a Smartphone (2020)
• Creating Virtual Corridors: Social Network Discovery and Landscape Patch Connectivity of Permaculture Projects and Initiatives on Facebook (2016)

MEET THE TEAM

Project Leader

Dr. Jabez Joshua M. Flores

Research Grant Awardees (Batch 1)

Julius Victor D.M. Abril (BS EE, CEAT-UPLB)

Jayson M. Osayan (BS EE, CEAT-UPLB)

Past and Current Researchers

Rick Jason Obrero

Luisa Gelisan

Edu Foronda

Rikki Lee Mendiola

Malvin Biguerras

Criselda Dorothi Mercado

Ara Kathleen Bagunu
Jim Leandro Cano
Matthew Seaver Choy

Sherry Anne Gocheco
Brian Sulicipan

Erickson Tabayag

Lyn Balatayo

Vince Escarcha

Cesar Ilao

Herbert Osio, Jr.

Advisers

Dr. Inocencio E. Buot, Jr.

Dr. Ricardo Bagarinao

Dr. Alexander Flor

Dr. Marisa Sobremisana

Dr. Ernie S. Guiang

Dr. Carl Ureta

Dr. Anton Domini Sta. Cruz

Myrna Flores

Research Questions

Phase 1: Who are they? And where are they?

Do you have friends who are permaculture designers? Kindly send us the following information:

a) Complete name

b) E-mail address

Please e-mail to jabezjoshuaflores@gmail.com

Thank you!

My GoGetFunding Campaign for Permaculture Research in the Philippines

Get GoGetFunding's Fundraising Ideas

Research Proposal

I updated my research proposal to create a 4-phase research project until 2019. Below is the new title of the research and the introduction:

DESIGNING FOOD SECURITY:

THE APPLICATIONS OF PERMACULTURE IN

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE—

CASE STUDIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Food security is a multidimensional issue that encompasses agriculture, human nutrition, and public health as well as economics and governance. In a survey conducted in the Philippines by the World Food Program in 2015, the main reasons for food insecurity were low income and the absence of a stable job. Other reasons include climate change-related calamities that caused damage to crops and infrastructures.

Permaculture is a design-based solution that can address food insecurity in the Philippines. It is a regenerative design framework based on whole systems thinking, observation of natural patterns, creative use of multifunctional components, biomimicry, and the application of ecological design principles in, but not limited to, the management of food systems. Permaculture designs around the world vary in appearance and in scale, from a single household to an entire community, yet all designs emphasize the use of locally available resources (natural and social capital) to create resilient and sustainable living systems that are food secure.

Strong social networks and the internet have played a significant role in permaculture information dissemination and the promotion of permaculture design courses (PDCs). In a study published by Ferguson and Lovell in 2013, the practice of permaculture has been observed to spread fast internationally in recent years. But unlike in other countries, permaculture has never been formally studied in the Philippines. Today, the largest gap in Philippine permaculture research is the lack of data on the location and status of local permaculture projects. In this regard, scientific research is needed to justify the adoption of permaculture design in local food production systems as a practical means to achieve food security.

  

Significance of the Study

As a holistic design framework, permaculture incorporates achieving food security with sustainable agriculture practices, biodiversity conservation, resilience, climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as strengthening the social fabric in rural and urban communities. Conducting permaculture research will help address national priorities such as Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Aichi Target 7 (sustainable management of agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry to ensure biodiversity conservation), and sustainable agriculture and rural development goals. The study will be the first comprehensive scholarly work in the Philippines to investigate, evaluate, and compare the current status of permaculture projects across the county. The results of the study can be used as an extensive source of data for future research on food security, sustainable agriculture, and permaculture.

Objectives of the Study

The general objectives of the study are to gather baseline data on the multiple functions of permaculture design system components and to determine how its practitioners and stakeholders evaluate their personal food security status in relation to their permaculture design.

The research will be divided into four phases each addressing a specific objective:

1)     to identify permaculture designers all over the country and create a database of their respective project sites;

2)     to profile permaculture sites and create a comprehensive inventory of local permaculture designs and the key system components interacting within its system;

3)    to determine the food security status of individuals in permaculture sites in relation to the design of key system components;

4)    and to mainstream the permaculture design concept for food security and sustainable development via new media.

I will be starting Phase 1 of the research this June. If you can refer to me any Philippine-based permaculture practioners/designers, please let me know by sending me an e-mail at jabezjoshuaflores@gmail.com. Thank you!