Syntropic Farming vs Permaculture

Today I am comparing syntropic farming and permaculture.

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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 Intro
0:28 What is Permaculture?
1:03 What is Syntropic Farming?
1:49 What Syntropic Agroforestry and Permaculture have in common?
2:37 Differences between Syntropic Agriculture and Permaculture
4:35 Who can apply Syntropic Farming vs Permaculture
5:07 Permaculture Food Forest
6:49 Syntropic Agriculture Food Forest
8:08 Who should choose Permaculture?
8:47 Who should choose Syntropic Farming?
9:34 Advice if you want to apply Syntropic Farming in Temperate or Arid climates.

Referenced videos:
Food Forest Chop and Drop
Keyline Design
Permaculture Backyard Kitchen Garden
Australian Syntropic Farm
Pruning in Syntropic Agroforestry

Useful Resources:
Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond by Brad Lancaster:
Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison

#SyntropicFarming #Permaculture #SustainableAgriculture #FoodForest #SyntropicAgriculture #SyntropicFarmingVsPermaculture #PermacultureDesign #SustainableLiving #EcologicalFarming #AgricultureTechniques

[ofilipedecastro]

I am Brazilian and currently practicing Agroforestry, also known as Syntropic Farming. I am also a certified permaculture designer. The key to syntropic agroforestry lies in the role humans play in the system, particularly through regular pruning and covering the ground with the material. This practice generates a significant pulse for the system, which accelerates regeneration by maximizing photosynthesis.

Often, people unfamiliar with syntropic methods misunderstand its purpose and view it as a competitor to permaculture. However, the reality is different. Permaculture is a collection of techniques that address various aspects of human living, drawing from indigenous and traditional knowledge. In contrast, agroforestry is focused on restoring and creating agroecosystems. The two approaches complement each other well.

You're viewing syntropic farming as a static recipe, but that’s simply not true. There are countless experiences and adaptations in different climates, scales, focus, etc. In fact, even within permaculture’s food forest strategy, you can apply syntropic techniques such as pruning, stratification, ground mulching, succession, and more. These methods are not exclusive to syntropic farming; they can enhance and complement permaculture practices as well.

[MattieAMiller]

Permaculture seems so much further reaching than syntropic farming, that syntropic farming almost feels like it is one more tool to be added to permaculture's toolkit. But the fact that syntropic farming is more specific in its purpose means that it may be more accessible to farmers who are completely new to the concepts both convey. Permaculture has so many aspects to it that it's possible a newcomer may become dissuaded from it entirely. A tldr may be: syntropic farming is a design technique while permaculture is design philosophy.

[keeparizonawild]

I was literally wondering this question this week and then BAM! I see your video. Perfect!

[denisdufresne]

For an autonomous small grower like me I find 2 interesting things in Syntropic that I can apply in my own small Orchard-veggies garden. Plant densification and more pruning in order to improve my soil more rapidly and limit or even eliminate the necessity to import biomass. Be able to produce his own biomasse is a big advantage in an era where we will see more and more ressource shortages. For the rest I do not like the fact that we let the successions take place to harvest only what is available in the thriving stage.

[YuriGorziza]

Many aspects of Permaculture could be used in Syntropic Farming. Also, in Syntropic Farming, almost all plants from all layers are planted at the same time, since many plants from higher layers grow slowly (like the biggest trees). The heavy pruning is used to not just add organic matter on the soil but to have more light going to the lower plants, increasing their growth. Planning on this system is pretty hard since you need to have a overall vision on what the system will be in like 10 to 20 years from the first seed planted, even tough you could plant many more types of crops before that time.
Syntropic farming also could use machines to do the heavy work, but not many conventional machines unfortunately. And even though it is used as a regenerative farming, it have a big potential to large scale production.

[CaptainRajiv]

I am from the western ghats of India and have been generally trying to understand how to proceed on a farm land I recently bought with an existing forest on it. While permaculture is quite spoken about around me, not much is happening about Syntropic farming. Thanks for the effort in presenting the fundamental approach of both.

[leonshomegrown]

Fantastic presentation as usual. Well done. Would love to see an update of your swales and plantings. Hope you’re all well and thank you for sharing your knowledge to help improve the environment. 😊😊😊

[guiagrace]

Thank you! So happy I found your channel! This video is gold for me!

[MichaelD-emvx]

Excellent comparison between the 2 systems. Made me subscribe to your channel right away.

[igornegrao]

Thank you for this video, I admire both ways and want to use all their principles in my land in Brazil. I live in Australia saving money to build a water well and get things started

[joelbenavides]

Extraordinary video!!! Congratulations!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[mauricioramos]

I think there is a misunderstanding about syntropic agriculture mainly because its a whole different paradigm (wich its incredible important for permaculture) about how we understand our role and function as humans. In my experience every permaculture place that integrates syntropic principles to their food production system never goes back to the other ways they were doing it, not only the food forest and the orchard (that now can go toghether so the zonning of that changes), so there are completely complementary, and an incredible knowledge that makes opens more the experience to regenerate a place. Maybe the experience of Permadynamics in New Zealand can show better this. Cheers

[bigmac]

Thank you so very much for the clear comparisons between the two systems/practices! It sounds like in my usually hot & humid but drought prone region, that permaculture would be a better fit 🥰 All the best! ✌🏻❤️

[BoxApeStudios]

Thanks, I've been looking for good answers to this question. I think for sure the techniques compliment each other, and are somehow two pieces of a puzzle about self sustainability. Love your videos, thanks for sharing your knowledge and good vibes!

[cutegixie]

I like drawing from both teachings to see what fits my needs. The thing I do worry about is when advocates of either practice focus so much on what works quickly that they encourage potential growers to use what I consider 'future invasives'. While I also want to have a food forest type set up, it can be hard when general advice is adamant about certain fast growing plants. I highly recommend anyone interested to reach out to your local plant experts as well to see what can be incorporated with your project! 🌳😀

[FM-qmxs]

Permaculture is an umbrella term that agroforestry systems like syntropic could fall under. There is not just one permaculture system. It can be done in various ways depending on your situation.

[denisdufresne]

You say that in syntropic farming you plant in steps but according to my understanding, plants are planted all at the same time the first year. So while the trees are still small and growing you can harvest small plants and with time the small plants are disappearing because trees are making more and more shade and use more and more soil ressources. We then end up with a mature forest where you can harvest wood, fruits or nuts. Syntropic is not good if you want to produce vegetables for many years. Syntropic seems to me a good option if your end goal is to produce a forest.

[SpibsTV]

I know you stated that your definition of Syntropic Ag came from online research, and there is a lack of clear online info, so I understand you are trying to answer the question based on the info you best had available.

However, I would hesitate trying to define it if you do not truly understand it.

For instance, although Ernst bought and started his current property in the early 80’s, his work on Syntropic Ag began years before that, and originated in Europe, before moving to different climates.
Secondly, Syntropics is not focused toward Tropical climates as you stated, in fact, Ernst’s farm is in Bahia, which is Sub-tropical.

It’s a good question you wish to answer, but perhaps consulting someone who is as knowledgeable in Syntropics as you are in Permaculture would have been the better approach.

[aquarius]

You explain concepts and principles so well, providing practical examples to help with learning. Thank you so much for sharing your videos.

[Massa_Lee]

I think Syntropic farming is better for making profit and can compete with conventional chemical farming. Permaculture seems to be an off-grid community based self sufficient farming .