Permaculture & Policy: The Agroecology-Permaculture Interface

by Alejandra Garcia | Jun 15, 2026

Permaculture & Policy: The Agroecology-Permaculture Interface

Permaculture has developed one of the most coherent frameworks for regenerative land use design available; yet it remains largely absent from formal policy discourse. Meanwhile, agroecology is gaining traction at national and international levels, appearing in food sovereignty frameworks, national agricultural strategies, and UN-aligned policy instruments. Permaculture is occasionally referenced as a subset of agroecology, but this framing undersells its design methodology and risks reducing it to a loose set of practices rather than a systems-level approach to land, resource, and community design.

This project examines the interface between permaculture and agroecology policy. We will review two to three national policy documents that formally integrate agroecological principles, mapping where permaculture’s design framework either already intersects with or could meaningfully strengthen those policy positions. From this analysis, we will develop a set of concrete recommendations for how permaculture as a distinct and rigorous design system might begin to enter policy conversations at national level.

The work is exploratory and analytical rather than prescriptive. The team will determine the specific countries and documents reviewed, but the output will be a structured, evidence-informed document that CoLab members and permaculture advocates can use as a foundation for ongoing policy engagement.

Funded with 979.05 GBP through emergent festival

STATUS : ON GOING

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Team

Paul Phillips
Siobhan Vida Ashmole
Kate Swatridge
Kekeletso Khena

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Area

Emergent festival, Grow project

Objectives 2026

Identify and review two to three national policy documents that formally incorporate agroecological principles, drawn from at least two different regions or political contexts, by the midpoint of the festival timeline.
Produce an analysis mapping where permaculture’s design framework intersects with, extends, or is absent from the reviewed policy documents
Develop a minimum of three actionable policy recommendations outlining how permaculture could be more explicitly recognised and integrated at national policy level, grounded in the findings of the analysis, and completed within the festival timeline.
Share findings with the CoLab community before the end of the festival contributing to the ongoing CoLab knowledge commons.

outcomes 2026

resources created

contact links

contact@perma.earth

Permaculture in Africa: Deepening our Roots

The Permaculture in Africa (PIA) circle exists to create a space of support and connection for permaculturists coming to the CoLab from Africa. We are working on three connected pieces of work:

The first is reviewing and testing an onboarding guide that was developed last year and has since been updated to reflect the CoLab’s new community discourse space. The guide is designed to support smoother onboarding for CoLab members based in Africa, and is also relevant for members from the Global South more broadly, as well as those with higher accessibility or tech needs. The review process will involve testing the guide with real users and incorporating feedback to improve it.

The second piece builds on a local networks database that PIA developed last year. This database maps permaculture networks across Africa that can offer on-the-ground support to CoLab members, since the CoLab itself does not provide this. The work here is to move from a basic directory to active outreach: identifying key contacts, introducing them to the CoLab, and inviting them to join. We will also promote the database internally so PIA members know it exists and how to use it. The hope is this will strengthen our strategic connections and partnership allies across Africa.

The third piece is providing advanced onboarding and extra support for new members who come in through the outreach process, working alongside the Welcome Circle.

Funded with 1000 GBP through emergent festival

STATUS : CANCELLED

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Team

Siobhan Vida Ashmole

Rogers Muthegheki

Mkhulu Colossa

Josie Redmond

Paul Phillips

Aimee Fenech – volunteering

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Area

Emergent festival, Grow project

Objectives 2026

1. Onboarding Guide Review and Testing

Specific: Review the updated PIA onboarding guide for the new community discourse space, test it with at least 3 to 5 members from Africa or the Global South, and incorporate feedback into a revised version.

Measurable: One revised guide published by end of festival period, with documented feedback from testers.

Achievable: Guide already exists; team has capacity to coordinate testing and revisions within the festival timeline.

Relevant: Directly supports CoLab’s accessibility and inclusion aims, and reduces barriers to participation for members from the Global South.

Time-bound: Testing completed and revised guide published within the GROW Emergent Festival 2026 timeline.

2. Local Network Outreach

Specific: Identify key contacts within the existing local networks database, conduct direct outreach to introduce them to the CoLab, and sign up at least 5 new members from African permaculture networks.

Measurable: Number of outreach contacts made, number of responses received, and number of new CoLab sign-ups tracked.

Achievable: Database already exists; team members have existing relationships with local networks across the continent.

Relevant: Strengthens the CoLab’s African membership base and builds a more robust support structure for members on the ground.

Time-bound: Outreach initiated and first round completed within the festival period.

3. Internal Promotion of the Local Networks Database

Specific: Create and share at least one internal communication to PIA members explaining what the local networks database is, how to use it, and why it matters.

Measurable: Communication published in the CoLab’s community space, with engagement tracked (views, responses, or follow-up questions).

Achievable: Straightforward communication task within team capacity.

Relevant: Ensures the database is actually used and valued by the community it was built for.

Time-bound: Published within the first half of the festival period.

4. Advanced Onboarding and Member Support (ad hoc)

Specific: Provide dedicated onboarding support for new members coming in through the outreach process

Measurable: Number of new members supported tracked; support sessions or check-ins documented.

Achievable: Hours allocated for this within the festival budget; team has experience with onboarding support.

Relevant: Ensures that outreach converts to active, retained membership.

Time-bound: Support provided on an ad hoc rolling basis as new members come in during the festival period.

outcomes 2026

This project was cancelled for lack of capacity.

resources created

contact links

contact@perma.earth

Diversity

Project Description

Enable development and delivery of diversity training resources for the Colab and the wider movement.

Enhance the diversity of the Colab as a collaborative space by supporting members who otherwise would not be able to engage.

Expected Outcomes

CoLab members, the permaculture movement and allied movements are able to access diversity training.

CoLab is a richer and more diverse space because there is a wider range of people collaborating.

Open Collective

Link to this project’s previous work as the Diversity and Decolonisation Community Pot

Funded with 19, 200 GBP through grow project

STATUS : ongoing

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Team

Ivana Andrea Neto Dramisino
Aimee Fenech (support)
Hans Ryding (support)

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Area

Diversity, participation and engagement, Network weaving, Grow Project

What do the Diversity Stipend & Grant Recipients say about this project:

I believe the opportunities that CoLab gives to the entire community is a beautiful thing to see, and more like minded people should definetly take courage to move fowards with their engagment and growing projects.

This type of collaboration appeared at the point of my life when I had time and skils to offer and desperately needed money. This type of work is something that can definitely be mutually beneficial and it’s something I deeply appreciate and wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who is aligned with the CoLab and needs support financially.

Olga Vita

This stipend has been a great opportunity to learn more about the Funding Circle, GROW project and the CoLab as a whole. I have felt like a valued part of the team and have been able to learn more about other Funding Circle activities. Researching funding opportunities has increased my knowledge of the fundraising landscape and I look forward to continuing to contribute to Funding Circle activities in whatever way I can.

Diversity & Decolonisation Community Pot Coordinator

objectives 2026

Role & Responsibilities

Support groups & individuals to apply for a diversity grant / stipend
Encourage applications for the grant and stipend by communicating with CoLab members about the potential of this grant /stipend
Review applications for completion upon submission within 48 hours (2 working days)
Forward applications to the community
Alert applicant of any pending clarifying questions / objections
Link successful applicants / contributors with the Digital Circle for set up
Report to the community in #grow-project sub-category any issues that arise
Provide and pass on feedback of this process in order to improve it
Make a commitment not to disclose details about personal circumstances applicants might share.
Follow up with contributors to complete the end of year report
Use Leantime to manage tasks and log hours worked

Outcomes 2026

4 stipends and 1 grant application

The applications were processed and the community was able to do their work/project.

resources created

contact links

contact@perma.earth

GROW Emergent Festival

Project Description

Leave room for emergent activities that emergence in line with CoLab VMAs – Emergent Festival a community led event over 6 months per year

Expected Outcomes

Up to 21 mini-projects are funded.

Emergent Festival happens each year.

Open Collective

Emergent festival Project Page from the Next Steps Project can be found here

Funded with 24 000 GBP through GROW project

STATUS : ongoing

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GROW Project Team

Ntsikelelo Colossa, Paul Philipps

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Area

GROW Project, Diversity, Participation and Engagement, Funding Circle

objectives 2026

CoLab members can pitch their ideas and will receive funding through a process of community-led allocation of monies by the most active CoLab members.