Permaculture, originating in 1970s Australia, is an agroecological design system and movement founded on specific ethics and principles. It has since expanded globally, promoting agricultural systems that emulate natural processes and the communities that tend them. As we approach its 50th anniversary, we contend that permaculture provides a robust framework for global agroecological initiatives. However, permaculture is not without its critics. It has been argued that permaculture is largely in…
Read morePermaculture, originating in 1970s Australia, is an agroecological design system and movement founded on specific ethics and principles. It has since expanded globally, promoting agricultural systems that emulate natural processes and the communities that tend them. As we approach its 50th anniversary, we contend that permaculture provides a robust framework for global agroecological initiatives. However, permaculture is not without its critics. It has been argued that permaculture is largely influenced by Global North perspectives and inadvertently perpetuates obstacles to inclusivity, gender diversity, minority representation, and acknowledgment of traditional knowledge. Strategies to address these challenges are identified by re-examining permaculture’s foundational ethics and principles. Drawing on Global South perspectives, decolonising approaches, and holistic ecological frameworks, the paper illustrates the utility of southern theory for agroecological research to advance the essential North–South knowledge dialogue in agroecology scholarship.
