S2E27: Are grasslands overshadowed by charismatic megaflora?—w/ Chris Kerston of Savory Institute

Ranching has been vilified as a major contributor to climate change. But what if it’s not the cow but the HOW? The fact is, animals have always lived and grazed on grasslands, and when we leverage regenerative grazing to raise livestock, we can rebuild the soil and sequester carbon in the grass and soil, sourcing materials like leather, fiber, and meat in a more responsible way.

Chris Kerston is the Chief Commercial Officer of the Land to Market Program at the Savory Institute, a nonprofit working to regenerate the world’s grasslands through Holistic Management. Today, Chris joins Ross to explain how the Savory Institute promotes regenerative grazing and share their vision of a future where farmers and ranchers work together.

Chris walks us through the Land to Market program’s Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) protocol, describing why they measure a breadth of ecosystem services versus sequestered carbon alone. Listen in to understand how Savory is supporting brands like Timberland and learn how the Land to Market Program can help us make more informed choices about what we consume.

Resources:

Nori on Patreon

Savory Institute

Chris at Savory Institute

Savory’s Land to Market Program

Kiss the Ground

Savory’s Partnership with Timberland

Diana Rodgers

Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat: Why Well-Raised Meat is Good for You and Good for the Planet by Diana Rodgers and Robb Wolf

Peter Donovan at the Soil Carbon Coalition

The Whole Foods Diet: The Lifesaving Plan for Health and Longevity by John Mackey, Alona Pulde, MD, and Matthew Lederman MD

Joel Salatin