Course overview
Course 5: Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) — Baseline Year
A scientifically-based assessment of land health, carried out on your farm during the growing season.
EOV Catalogue 2025 UK
When
EOV Baseline assessments are offered May through September, at a date and time that suits you. This timing ensures that monitoring captures the full expression of plant growth during the growing season.
Where
On your farm — across a representative sample of your landbase, selected using digital mapping and ecological strata.
Included
Digital map acquisition and stratum design
Short-Term Monitoring (STM) across representative sites
Long-Term Monitoring (LTM)
Water infiltration testing
Biodiversity and soil cover measurements
Ecological Health Index scoring
Full EOV report and dashboard
Debriefing and mentoring session
Travel to your farm
“EOV gives the land a voice of its own. When you measure the ecological processes directly, you know exactly where you stand — and what needs improving.”
— EOV Team
What Is EOV?
Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) is a field-based, outcome-focused monitoring protocol that evaluates how well the four ecosystem processes are functioning on your land: water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow, and community dynamics.
It is used globally on more than six million acres and is the scientifically-validated method for verifying regenerative outcomes. It tracks both leading indicators (what is changing now) and lagging indicators (long-term trends such as biodiversity and soil carbon).
The Baseline Year establishes your starting point.
Why Establish a Baseline?
Peter Drucker said, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” This is as true for farms as for any business.
Your baseline provides:
A clear picture of how your land is functioning today
A verified starting point against which future improvements are measured
The ability to track ecological change year on year
Data-driven insight into where management tweaks will deliver the greatest gains
Eligibility to become EOV Verified after two years of positive trend
What You’ll Achieve
A full ecological assessment of your land across multiple representative sites
Your Ecological Health Index (EHI) — a holistic measure of soil and ecosystem function
An understanding of your strongest and weakest ecosystem processes
A benchmark to track improvement over time
A detailed, easy-to-read EOV report showing leading and lagging indicators
Confidence in knowing whether your land is improving, holding steady, or declining
What’s Measured
Short-Term Monitoring (STM) — done every year
Tracks leading indicators such as:
live canopy abundance
plant vigour and reproduction
plant species (desirable/undesirable)
litter quantity and incorporation
dung decomposition
bare soil and soil capping
wind & water erosion
forage quantity & quality
grazing intensity and grazing pattern
Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) — done Year 0 and every 5 years
Tracks lagging indicators such as:
water infiltration rate
biodiversity (plant composition & soil cover)
fixed-transect photographic records
Ecological Health Index (EHI)
soil carbon monitoring (optional)
These measurements together form your Ecological Health Index, the central indicator used to track regeneration.
How It Works
Before the Visit
We acquire digital maps of your land, design the sampling strata, and prepare the monitoring plan.
During the Visit (1 or 2 days depending upon the site)
You join an EOV Monitor to carry out STM and LTM assessments across agreed sites, completing ecological measurements and recording field data.
After the Visit
You receive:
a full EOV report
your Ecological Health Index (EHI) score
a dashboard showing all key indicators
a debriefing session to interpret results and discuss next steps
Verification Timeline
Year 0: Baseline established
Years 1–4: Short-Term Monitoring annually
Year 5: Baseline repeated
Verification: Achieved after two years of positive trending data, reviewed by Savory Institute Quality Assurance
Suitable For
EOV can be applied to:
natural and seeded grasslands
grazed orchards
silvopastoral systems
mixed livestock–cropping systems
pure cropping systems
forests / woodlands
It is ideal for farmers who want to:
measure whether their management is regenerating the land
track improvement over time
qualify for regenerative market opportunities
improve water infiltration, biodiversity, and soil function
The EOV Team
Your baseline assessment is carried out by trained EOV Monitors and overseen by the Hub Verifier.
Certification
EOV Baseline establishes your eligibility to begin the verification process. Formal verification is granted after two consecutive years of positive ecological trend, reviewed by Savory Institute Quality Assurance.
Location
