Allan Savory: holistic management begins with decisions
Managed grazing is the best-known aspect of Savory’s approach. The framework also includes financial planning, infrastructure and ecological monitoring.
A shared goal for land and people
Holistic Management connects land, people and a farm’s finances. The Savory Institute describes considering ecological, social and economic consequences for present needs and the future.
It begins by identifying land and resources, decision-makers and the life the enterprise should support. Participants create a shared description of their desired future, the Holistic Context, as a reference for later choices.
Examining a decision
Equipment purchases or livestock-number changes are assessed against this goal. Questions address causes, the weakest link, returns on money and time, future land condition and quality of life.
Introducing livestock into an olive grove, for example, requires feed, water, care time, tree protection and infrastructure costs. A shortage in one can change the decision, illustrating connections across the whole enterprise.
Grazing with planned recovery
Holistic Planned Grazing organises movement among land sections: how long animals stay, where they move and when they return. Central is adequate vegetation recovery. Plans account for forage, seasonal animal needs, other land uses and drought. Observations may require changing a fixed rotation.
Infrastructure and finance
Water points and fences determine feasible movements and link present interventions with long-term aims. Financial planning uses annual budgets and monthly planned-versus-actual comparisons. Desired profit is planned first, with costs assessed against available revenue. The process supports revision and investments aligned with goals.
Land provides feedback
Surface and vegetation observations connect decisions with ecosystem functions. Savory’s EOV combines annual observations with detailed five-year measurements including soil carbon and infiltration. Applying a practice and documenting positive outcomes are separate steps; outcomes require site data.
In the hypothetical olive grove, cover, bare patches, recovery and tree damage could be recorded with animal condition, labour and costs. Together they could guide changes in stay duration, route or season.
Our field work
We intend to explore holistic principles in designing olive grove trials.
Sources and further reading
- Savory Institute, Holistic Management
- Savory Institute, The basics of Holistic Management
- Savory Institute, Introduction to Holistic Decision-Making
- Savory Institute, Holistic Planned Grazing: It’s More than Rotational Grazing
- Savory Institute, How Holistic Financial Planning Can Create More Wealth
- Savory Institute, Ecological Outcome Verification