EP44: Allan Savory – Why We're Solving The Wrong Problems
From The Regenerative Design Podcast™ by Matthieu Mehuys
June 3, 2026 · 1h 6m · Season 1 · Episode 44
About this episode
Allan Savory discusses how many environmental and social problems arise from institutional decision-making rather than a lack of knowledge or good intentions.
"Most people are good. I really believe that. Most people are doing their best. Then you have to ask yourself, not just in agriculture, but in every field, well, if so many people mean well, why is so much going wrong?" Many of the world's biggest environmental, social, and economic problems may not be caused by bad people or a lack of scientific knowledge. They may stem from the way large institutions make decisions. This episode explores the difference between treating symptoms and addressing root causes, challenging conventional thinking around science, governance, biodiversity loss, agriculture, and civilization itself. Rather than focusing on isolated solutions, the discussion centers on understanding the systems that shape human behavior and ecological outcomes. Allan Savory argues that many environmental and social crises stem from the way institutions develop policy rather than from a lack of knowledge or good intentions. Drawing on experiences as an ecologist, farmer, parliamentarian, and founder of holistic management, he discusses scientific dogma, biodiversity loss, the limitations of modern political systems, and the ideas behind his new memoir, UnSavory. Allan…
People in this episode
Host: Matthieu Mehuys
Guest: Allan Savory
Topics covered
- environmental issues
- decision-making
- holistic management
- biodiversity
- agriculture
- social crises
Keywords
- environmental problems
- decision-making structures
- holistic management
- biodiversity loss
- agriculture
- civilization
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: UnSavory
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