Activities

Dr. Christina Alvarado delivered a well-crafted statement as she reflected on last week's International Congress of Meat Science and Technology. At this event, the challenges facing scientists were illuminated, serving as a reminder that science is the pursuit of answers through precisely formulated inquiries. These factual and evidence-based answers should guide our path forward, a safer alternative than following the guidance of politics or personal opinions.

In another development, Manuel Otero, the Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), has enthusiastically endorsed the Dublin Declaration. This endorsement, among multiple others, signifies another step forward for the Dublin Declaration as we are witnessing a groundswell of recognition for the invaluable role that livestock plays in our society. 

Nature Foods, an accredited journal featuring contributions from a diverse range of experts in agriculture, food systems, and sustainability, has recently published an article on the The Dublin Declaration of Scientists. This correspondence, written by Frederic Leroy and Peer Ederer, who are among the founders of the Dublin Declaration for Scientists, provides a brief overview of the current scientific landscape regarding the role of livestock in society. Some of the statements made and evidence referred to again highlight the ongoing discussion surrounding the role of livestock in our society. Read more on the link. 

As a spin-off from The Dublin Summit in October 2022, the same scientists who organised The Dublin Declaration of Scientists recently published their peer-reviewed evidence to emphasise the societal role of meat. The topics include nutrition and health, economics, the environment, and future outlooks. The full issue can be accessed under "show-more". 
 

Preceding the release of Animal Frontiers, the scientists who gave rise to the Dublin Declarataion of scientists presented their findings and research on the societal role of meat in Brussels. This was co-organised by the Animal Task Force (ATF) and the Belgian Association for Meat Science and Technology (BAMST). During the symposium, the role of meat in health, the environment and the economy was discussed, as will be published in the April edition of Animal Frontiers. The videos are available to view online, click "show more" to view. 

The Dublin Declaration, previously written in English, has now been expanded to an additional 3 languages namely French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. This is after the incredible response received from scientists and policy makers across the world who endorse the Dublin Declaration and wish to share it among their colleagues and peers. Since the declaration is gaining more traction across countries, more languages will be added in the near future.

We are thrilled to announce the success of The Dublin Declaration for scientists. As of today, we crossed the 700 mark. In addition to the participation received, we are receiving substantial positive encouragement by decision makers in policy and business behind the scenes. Today we have 716 signatures and counting.

Being near the 1000 mark, with less than 300 signatures to go, we would greatly appreciate if you could share the Dublin Declaration with your colleagues in science who can commit to signing, and sign yourself if you have not done so yet. Thank you for support in signing The Dublin Declaration for Scientist.

Text: Meat and livestock contribute to personal health and well-being, maintain ecological balances and secure socioeconomic livelihoods. The International Summit on The Societal Role of Meat – What the SCIENCE Says, highlighted and summarised all the different ways in which meat is relevant in modern society. The Summit took place in Dublin, Ireland on October 19th & 20th 2022, and was hosted by Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority. Meat production and meat consumption are frequent subjects of societal debate, and for good reason. As a pivotal source of nourishment, and playing a large role in ecological and economic systems, meat production must continuously evolve with the best technologies available in order to maximize its benefits and minimize 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.

It is critical to clearly understand what the objective scientific evidence is saying. The Summit brought together a group of globally leading scientists from across relevant disciplines to present and achieve a comprehensive synopsis of the scientific insights on the role of meat in society.

These presentations are available on the following link:

Meat and livestock contribute to personal health and well-being, maintain ecological balances and secure socioeconomic livelihoods. The International Summit on The Societal Role of Meat – What the SCIENCE Says, will highlight and summarize all the different ways in which meat is relevant in modern society. The Summit takes place in Dublin, Ireland on October 19th & 20th 2022, and is hosted by Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority.