Our landscapes, our livestock, ourselves: Restoring broken linkages among plants, herbivores, and humans with diets that nourish and satiate

Summary

This 2015 review by Provenza, Meuret, and Gregorini synthesises evidence on how restoring ecological linkages between plants, grazing herbivores, and human consumers can improve both landscape function and nutritional outcomes. The authors argue that when livestock graze heterogeneous, biodiverse pastures and humans consume correspondingly varied, nutrient-dense diets, physiological satiety and health are enhanced whilst supporting landscape restoration. The work integrates animal behaviour, plant ecology, and human nutrition to challenge simplified, commodity-focused food systems.

Regional applicability

Whilst the authors' primary research base is North American, the principles of grazing heterogeneous landscapes and dietary diversity are increasingly relevant to United Kingdom regenerative farming practice and policy (particularly around Environmental Land Management schemes). Transferability depends on local forage composition, climate, and farm scale, but the conceptual framework applies to upland and lowland pastoral systems across the UK.

Key measures

Likely includes qualitative assessment of landscape heterogeneity, herbivore diet selection, plant species diversity, and human satiety and nutritional adequacy across different dietary and grazing regimes.

Outcomes reported

The paper likely examines how herbivore grazing patterns, plant diversity, and human dietary choices interconnect to support ecosystem health and nutritional outcomes. It appears to explore mechanisms by which grazing animals and humans can co-benefit from diversified, landscape-responsive feeding systems.

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