Holistic Management video

#video with Allan Savory

On September 10th and 11th,2014; SDSU and the SD Grassland Coalition hosted Allan Savory for two days of grassland related teaching, seminars, and a field day. Through the course of the seminar Savory shared his views on human history and the use of what he deemed three basic historical human tools: technology, fire, and environmental ‘rest’; and how each has influenced modern day thinking.

Summary of "Holistic Management by Allan Savory"

• (00:00–01:29) The Root Cause of Global Problems
  Allan Savory introduces the idea that many global crises—economic, environmental, and social—stem from a single, systemic issue rather than being isolated problems. He recalls a conference where Gro Harlem Brundtland urged scientists to see the interconnections between global issues.

• (01:29–02:55) Agriculture as the Central Problem
  Through a thought experiment, Savory concludes that most global issues stem from how we manage agriculture. He suggests that agriculture has historically led to the downfall of civilizations, despite human knowledge and good intentions.

• (02:55–03:55) The Importance of Agriculture
  Savory presents a striking visual of cow manure, emphasizing its fundamental role in sustaining life. He challenges the common perception that agriculture is just crop production, defining it broadly as the management of food, fiber, land, and water resources.

• (03:55–06:42) The Overlooked Impact of Agriculture
  Agriculture is often undervalued because it constitutes a small percentage of GDP. However, its mismanagement leads to severe consequences, including climate change, desertification, poverty, violence, and mass migration.

• (08:09–10:22) Technology vs. Natural Systems
  Modern agricultural practices prioritize technological advancements and marketability rather than sustainability. Savory contrasts human-made advancements with self-organizing natural systems, arguing that the latter require different management approaches.

• (10:22–13:42) Complexity and Systemic Blunders
  Complex systems, including ecosystems and organizations, behave unpredictably. History shows that centralized expert management often increases the frequency and scale of blunders rather than reducing them.

• (15:31–18:55) Wicked Problems in Institutions
  Savory outlines three "wicked problems" that make institutional change difficult:

  1. Institutions prioritize their own survival over their mission.
  2. They resist adapting to new, necessary solutions.
  3. They struggle with decision-making in complex environments.

• (19:17–End) The Unifying Crisis: Biodiversity Loss, Desertification, and Climate Change
  Savory concludes that biodiversity loss, desertification, and climate change are interconnected symptoms of poor agricultural management. He suggests that holistic management offers a path forward to addressing these global crises.