MenuThe Savory Institute
WebsiteDescription
Savory Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Boulder, Colorado with 46 regional learning Hubs around the globe. Founded in 2009, the Institute has trained nearly 13,000 farmers, ranchers, and pastoralists and influenced the management of more than 13 Million hectares of grasslands through the adoption of Holistic Planned Grazing – a process that mimics ancestral grazing patterns of wild herbivores that co-evolved with healthy grassland ecosystems.
Developed by Allan Savory in the 1960’s, Holistic Management (HM) has been proven in a wide variety of contexts to regenerate grasslands, build soil, increase biodiversity, and sequester significant amounts of carbon while also improving social and economic outcomes. (Watch Allan Savory's TED talk, voted "one of the top 100 TED Talks of all time")
Savory’s big audacious goal for 2025 is to influence management on 1 billion hectares of land and make a significant dent in carbon drawdown before it is too late. Through a growing global network and new programs in the pipeline to accelerate adoption, this goal is not just achievable, but necessary to create a livable planet for many generations to come.
Savory Institute is proud to hold a Guidestar platinum rating -- their highest level of recognition for nonprofit transparency. Please see Savory’s annual reports for additional information.
Mission Statement
The Savory Institute's mission is to facilitate the large-scale regeneration of the world's grasslands through Holistic Management.
Why grasslands? Grasslands are a vital yet often under-represented landscape in our global ecosystem. With one-third of the Earth’s landmass -- or roughly 12.5 million acres -- comprised of these vast open spaces, and experts estimating up to 70% dying and turning to desert, now more than even it is critical to support grassland regeneration and in doing so greatly contribute towards climate, food, and water security.
From food and fiber production to soil carbon and wildlife habitat, grasslands provide a host of ecosystem services necessary for all life on this planet. Whether you’re focused on conservation, climate change, wildlife habitat, drought resilience, rural economies, food systems, or animal welfare, supporting Savory Institute allows your organization to scale holistic solutions to a host of inter-related issues.
Program Details
The Savory Global Network is comprised of regionally-based Hubs (learning centers) that provide HM training, resources, and implementation support to local farmers and ranchers. With an intimate knowledge of local culture, economy, policies, and environment, Hubs are able to mentor producers and help them implement these regenerative management practices in a contextually-specific manner that is relevant to their region.
Savory’s Land to Market program, supported by the robust metrics of the Ecological Outcome Verification protocol, connects conscientious buyers, brands, and retailers directly to farms and ranches verified to be regenerating their land, creating the world’s first and only outcomes-based verified regenerative sourcing solution for the food and fiber industries.
The Savory Global Network currently operates across six continents offering training, mentoring, and land verification to land managers of all types. Since 2009, we are proud to have achieved the following impact:
- 47 Global Hubs
- 115 Accredited Professionals (educators)
- 12,645 farmers/ranchers/pastoralists trained
- 13.3 million hectares of land holistically managed
In addition, the Savory Institute periodically engages with municipalities, governments, and other NGO’s to collaborate on 3-year demonstration projects that build capacity within those organizations to scale the use of regenerative land management practices. Examples of special projects include joint efforts with Heifer International in Senegal, The Nature Conservancy in Colorado, and the government of the UAE.
