No, this isn’t just another headline grabbing rant by Dr Evil. It’s an announcement letting Kiwis know that New Zealand producers now have access to a powerful and global regenerative agriculture movement. A movement deeply committed to making a real difference by leading, lobbying for, and facilitating positive change. How is this possible? Āta, an agribusiness consultancy owned by Dr Hugh Jellie, an experienced veterinarian with a passion for animals and the land has been managing the renaissance of Titoki Farm, transitioning it from a traditional operation into a commercial pilot (some say beacon) for regenerative farming. The property is a well-known beef and sheep property in Rotorua, which under Jellie’s stewardship has now succeeded in becoming the first accredited Savory Hub in New Zealand.

The highly regarded Savory Institute is recognised across the world for its scientifically backed work in regenerative agriculture. And they’re aiming big…really big. By 2025, this amazing group of regenerators led by a super committed executive team based in Denver, Colorado, is aiming to influence a Billion hectares of land. How? They plan to achieve this very audacious goal by rapidly scaling up through the establishment of one hundred Savory Hubs. The Hubs will be led by a global coalition of the willing who have the entrepreneurial drive and passion to power the vision.

Hubs are Holistic Management training, learning and demonstration sites. Formed and fused together as a global community, Hubs are networks of entrepreneurial people passionate to create abundance for the people and places in their regions. Hub leaders like Hugh Jellie are committed to helping producers create local solutions to resolve their land degradation challenges.

Jellie’s unwavering commitment to harmonising farming practices, people, animal welfare and the environment, along with his deeply held belief that New Zealand can be a leader in the regenerative agriculture space, has kept his dream of doing things better alive. Finally, after years of dedication and significant investment by Jellie, New Zealand now has a seat at a very influential table, one which is responsible for driving change on a worldwide scale. The group’s mission is simple, large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands by employing holistic management principles. By doing so, Savory projects and initiatives aim to address desertification, climate change, and food and water security. These are fundamental requirements for every human being. They are needed to survive and thrive on a rare blue planet.

An additional and very exciting initiative driven from the Hubs is the Land-to-Market program. This is a symbiotic initiative derived from the Ecological Outcomes Verification (EOV) program and could have easily been custom built for New Zealand farmers and producers. It is an ideal platform for those wanting to command a premium for their operations outputs in-market. The program offers a structured pathway along with exit strategies out of the commodity space. Hubs complete their own training in Ecological Outcomes Verification and offer services to producers in the region wanting to be part of the Land to Market program, the world’s first outcome-based, verified-regenerative sourcing solution.

There is a lot going on in the Savory world right now, with exciting initiatives taking shape around the country. To find out what’s going on in your area, or to just find out more, contact Hugh Jellie on 027 494 9895