Leading scientists advance science in global meat debate
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, today, Wednesday, 19 October opened the International Summit on the Societal Role of Meat. The Summit hosted by Teagasc at the Food Research Centre in Ashtown, Dublin, is gathering world-leading experts on the role of livestock farming and meat in diet and health; society, economics, and culture; and a sustainable environment.
Evidence reviewed in the Summit and conclusions from the Summit will feature in a peer-reviewed edition of the scientific journal Animal Frontiers to be published in early 2023. Summit attendees, with academic and scientific credentials, will be invited to endorse the evidence base by signing the ‘Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Meat’. To read the declaration, click https://www.dublin-declaration.org/ .
The Summit will conclude Thursday with remarks by European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness addressing the importance of facts in the meat and livestock debate.
The full summit agenda includes presentations by experts from leading research institutions and universities from across the globe.
Minister of State, Martin Heydon commented: “It has never been more important to move forward with accurate and scientific understanding of meat’s critical role in society. Ireland welcomes the scientific effort embodied in the conference, and its contribution to global solutions that ensure meat drives solutions for a healthy future.”
Teagasc Assistant Director of Research, Declan Troy commented: “Teagasc welcomes the opportunity to host the International Summit on the Societal Role of Meat. In advance of the UN Climate Summit in November, there is a more urgent need than ever to ensure that agricultural, industrial, governmental and educational stakeholders act on the basis of the best available scientific information regarding livestock farming and meat consumption’s impacts on individual and population health, the environment, and livelihoods.