October 17, 2022

 

Scientists meet in Dublin, Ireland, over concerns of negative ideological impact on meat and livestock

 

A large group of independent scientists from all over the world has organised to meet in Dublin, Ireland, this week for a high-level summit organsied over concerns that a dramatic increase in ideological approaches regarding meat and livestock is displacing fact-based decision making.

 

The scientists behind the summit are advocating a return to solid evidence-based policy and the launch of a formalised international effort to counter the rising influence of incomplete science on global policy.

 

Adding to their concerns is an increasing trend of government resourcing for livestock research reducing dramatically around the world, and young academics increasingly questioning whether there is a future in meat science.

 

The scientists point out that meat production must continuously evolve with the best technologies available in order to maximise its benefits and minimise undesirable impacts.

 

"Given the importance and scale of meat production, the respective agricultural, industrial, governmental and educational actors need to continuously strive to earn their societal license to operate," the organising scientists explained in the summit overview. "It is critical that we clearly understand what the objective scientific evidence is saying.

 

"The subject is too important to be influenced by ideology and incomplete or false description in public discourse."

 

Almost 200 people will attend the summit, including independent globally-leading scientists, and senior industry leaders and government representatives from Australia, Ireland, England, Scotland, the United States, Canada, Brazil and across Europe.

 

The organisers also emphasised that the summit has been conceived and organised by independent scientists and is not sponsored by the meat industry.

 

Its purpose is to bring leading scientists from across many relevant disciplines together to present, debate and achieve a comprehensive synopsis of the scientific insights on the role of meat in society and to communicate the best science available on animal agriculture and meat consumption to industry, governments and policy makers.

 

The summit itself and the resulting synopsis will focus on the best available science in three areas: the role of meat in diet and health, the role of meat in a sustainable environment and the role of meat in society, economics, and culture.

 

The outcome of the event is intended to be the development of a clear, scientific, evidence-based understanding of the impact of livestock production and consumption on societies across the globe.

 

- Beef Central