2.2 Limitations of permaculture as an approach to tackling climate change
Critics of a ‘permaculture solution’ to climate change come from two perspectives: agro-industry and climate alarmism.
Agro-industry critique
(It is hard to find any critique of permaculture per se, but quite easy to find criticism of organic farming. For each of the critiques of organic farming I highlight the possible limitations of the critique if it were applied to permaculture.)
Borlaug's criticism is on the grounds of yield. He believes that organic farming yields less than conventional methods. He is comparing conventional farming with irrigation to organic farming without irrigation. This seems unfair as organic farmers and permaculturalists are generally pro-rainwater harvesting and irrigation. Also, it is important to remember that yields from permaculture are higher than normal organic farming, since there is potential for harvesting throughout the year. In addition, in the tropics it is possible to have multiple levels of crop (tree; bush; tall plants; ground cover) in the same small plot of land.
Activity 5
Read interviews with Norman Borlaug at:
iGreens.org.uk
Marginal Revolution
Then read the UNEP-UNCTAD report ‘Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa’ , which deals with organic agriculture in developing countries. The report suggests yields are not reduced in developing countries when organic farming methods are used.
Borlaug's criticisms seem to depend on context: while organic methods may reduce yields in cool, developed countries, they don't in developing countries. Do you agree?
Now look at the counter argument put by Christos Vasilikiotis where he compares chemical and organic agriculture yields in the article 'Can organic farming "feed the world"?'.
Comment
Climate alarmists' response
The climate alarmist's case against permaculture could include the following:
Permaculture may help people secure a food supply in some areas, but it won't prevent extreme weather events and sea level rise.
Permaculture does not offer a short/medium term way to limit the rapid increase in CO2 and global temperatures that we are already seeing.
It is unrealistic to expect the agri-industrialists (who own much of the world's farmland) to adopt permaculture practices.
Permaculturists' response
Permaculture promoters might respond in a number of ways:
All the arguments are true, but what we're doing is still of more practical help to low income people than anything else.
All the arguments are true for now, but when world agro-industrial farming becomes financially and ecologically unsustainable, we'll be the best show in town.
To explore these points further, consider joining an online forum on permaculture. Two websites with lists of permaculture discussion groups are:
Permaculture Activist
Permaculture.org.uk's ‘Discussing permaculture online’
Activity 6
Imagine a discussion among several generations in a village in southern Africa. Which of the above points of view might they embrace?
2 Permaculture