Regenerative Grazing for Climate, Ecosystem, and Human Health
Leading up to COP27 in Egypt, and as members of the Global Evergreening Alliance, the Savory Institute contributed towards the development of a document aimed at educating and encouraging world leaders to support regenerative grazing and silvopastoral systems as part of their conference initiatives.
To Which We Belong (2021)
To Which We Belong’ is a documentary that highlights farmers and ranchers leaving behind conventional practices that are no longer profitable or sustainable. These unsung heroes are improving the health of our soil and sea to save their livelihoods — and our planet.
Regenerative rotational grazing management of dairy sheep increases springtime grass production and topsoil carbon storage
The aim of this study was to determine the mid-term effect of regenerative grazing in Basque country of Northern Spain on soil ecosystem services and evaluate their synergies and trade-offs. Regenerative rotational grazing achieved 30% higher springtime grass production and 3.6% higher topsoil carbon storage than conventional rotational grazing.
Sacred Cow (2021)
In Sacred Cow, registered dietitian Diana Rodgers and former research biochemist and New York Times bestselling author Robb Wolf explore the quandaries we face in raising and eating animals—focusing on the largest (and most maligned) of farmed animals, the cow. Taking a critical look at the assumptions and misinformation about meat, Sacred Cow points out the flaws in our current food system and in the proposed “solutions.”
Managing soils for negative feedback to climate change and positive impact on food and nutritional security
This paper by Dr. Rattan Lal detailing the scope of nature-based climate solutions, including but not limited to grasslands and soils. Findings show that “the soil C sink capacity, between 2020 and 2100, with the global adoption of best management practice which creates a positive soil/ecosystem C budget, is estimated at 178 Pg C for soil, 155 Pg C for biomass, and 333 Pg C for the terrestrial biosphere with a total CO2 drawdown potential of 157 ppm.”
Accelerating regenerative grazing to tackle farm, environmental, and societal challenges in the upper Midwest
This paper provides an overview of opportunities to increase regenerative grazing in the Upper Midwest of the United States. With a growing body of research complemented by anecdotal evidence, this approach is increasingly understood to be a “win-win-win” for farmers, society, and the environment.
Ecosystem Impacts and Productive Capacity of a Multi-Species Pastured Livestock System
This paper conducted a whole-farm life cycle assessment (LCA) of a multi-species pasture rotation (MSPR) farm in the southeastern United States that was originally converted from degraded cropland. Results showed an average of 2.29 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Incorporation of soil C sequestration into the LCA reduced net GHG emissions by 80%, resulting in a footprint 66% lower than commodity production systems.
Kiss the Ground (2020)
In conjunction with the book of the same name, Kiss the Ground is an accesible call-to-action for those looking to align their values with their purchasing behavior. Featuring Allan Savory and other pioneers, the film takes a deep dive into the world of regenerative agriculture from the perspective of the everyday consumer.
Whole-System Approach Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health and Farm Livelihoods
This paper is a literature review on the ecological impacts of grazing, and finds that where managed properly (employing a “whole-systems approach” and “adaptive, goal-directed grazing methods”) livestock are essential to ecosystem service sustainability and improvement. Soil organic matter increases were sufficient to yield a net sink of 2 tons of carbon per hectare per year.
The Reindeer Chronicles
The Reindeer Chronicles demonstrates how solutions to seemingly intractable problems can come from the unlikeliest of places, and how the restoration of local water, carbon, nutrient, and energy cycles can play a dramatic role in stabilizing the global climate. Ultimately, it reveals how much is in our hands if we can find a way to work together and follow nature’s lead.