When you think about climate change solutions, livestock probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. For years, cows, chickens, and other farm animals have been blamed for everything from deforestation to greenhouse gas emissions. But a new documentary is challenging that narrative. Livestock or Desert (Ganado o Desierto), directed by Francisco Vaquero, hit Spanish theatres in January 2023, offering a bold new perspective: what if livestock could be part of the solution instead of the problem?
The film is based on Holistic Management, a concept introduced by biologists Allan Savory and Jody Butterfield. It focuses on a revolutionary method of managing livestock to combat desertification and regenerate degraded land. Instead of sticking with conventional ideas about farming, which often rely on chemicals and intensive land use, this approach uses nature itself as the model.
The problem with meat as we know it
Let’s face it: the meat industry has a bad reputation – and for good reason. Intensive livestock farming churns out cheap meat for supermarkets and fast-food chains but at a massive ethical and environmental cost. Animals are crammed into tiny spaces, treated as little more than production units, and fed crops grown in environmentally destructive monocultures. The result? Massive methane emissions, widespread deforestation, and exploitative labour practices.
This industrial farming system reflects what author Peter Singer called “ethically indefensible” in his 2004 book Animal Liberation. Despite new regulations, practices like large-scale chicken farming and intensive dairy production remain the norm. The consequences are so severe that many people are turning to veganism and vegetarianism, not just for their health, but also as a stand against an exploitative system.
But here’s the kicker: even some vegan products aren’t as green as they appear. Think of the trendy avocado or almond milk. These so-called “healthier” options often come with hidden costs, like deforestation and massive water consumption, that contribute to the very environmental destruction they claim to combat. It’s the textbook definition of greenwashing.
A new way to think about livestock
So, what’s the alternative? Livestock or Desert flips the script on traditional views of farming by arguing that livestock, when managed correctly, could actually help repair ecosystems. The Holistic Management method mimics the natural behaviour of wild herbivores. In the wild, animals like bison or zebras graze an area, trample the soil, leave behind manure, and then move on, allowing the land time to recover. Holistic Management replicates this process by carefully rotating livestock through different grazing areas.
By moving large groups of grazing animals at set intervals, farmers can prevent overgrazing, restore soil health, and stimulate plant growth. The trampling helps break up dry, compacted soil, improving its ability to absorb water and reducing the risk of erosion. Meanwhile, the manure left behind acts as a natural fertiliser, boosting soil fertility without the need for synthetic chemicals.
According to the documentary, this approach has already proven successful on farms in Spain, where degraded land has been transformed into fertile, thriving pastures. Savory argues that integrating livestock and agriculture in this way creates a sustainable system that not only restores ecosystems but also reduces reliance on harmful practices like intensive land use and chemical inputs. Rather than seeing livestock as an enemy of the environment, Livestock or Desert presents them as a powerful tool for regenerating ecosystems and restoring balance.
The bigger picture
But let’s be real: it’s not that simple. Holistic Management alone isn’t enough to solve the problem. Global meat consumption is unsustainable, and no system – no matter how innovative – can support the current demand for meat without major consequences. For Holistic Management to succeed, we need to drastically reduce how much meat we eat.
The biggest hurdle, however, is the economic system propping up industrial farming. Large agribusinesses prioritise profits over sustainability, exploiting both animals and workers to meet the insatiable demand for cheap meat. Transforming this system means challenging entrenched capitalist structures – a daunting task, to say the least.
So, can Holistic Management change the world? Maybe. The real challenge lies in scaling it up while addressing human greed and disregard for life. It’s an ambitious idea – some might even call it utopian – but the documentary offers a glimmer of hope.
As climate change intensifies, we’ll need more than just high-tech solutions to save the planet. Sometimes, the answers lie in going back to basics – working with nature, rather than against it.
