Building on the 2022 Dublin Declaration of Scientists on 'The societal role of meat and livestock'

The Colorado State University (CSU) Center for Meat Safety & Quality recently hosted the "International Summit on the Role of Meat & Livestock in Society" in Denver (USA) to address the societal role of meat and livestock, building on the work of the 2022 Dublin Declaration of Scientists.

The two-day event, supported by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, brought together global experts to discuss sustainable production, nutrition, ecological impacts, and innovations in livestock management. Participants discussed the societal role of meat and livestock in food and nutrition, examining the scientific debate and challenges related to sustainable food production, food security, and environmental impacts.

Key Areas Addressed

In brief, the symposium covered three key areas:

1. Health and Nutrition: Emphasising the role of animal-source foods' in addressing malnutrition and supporting balanced diets across different income groups.

2. Societal Considerations: Focusing on technological advancements, animal welfare, food security, and the importance of effective communication with consumers.

3. Ecology and Environment: Exploring the impact of livestock farming² on ecosystems, including soil health, biodiversity, and carbon management, with sustainable practices in mind.

The symposium concluded that the increase in diet-related diseases and the need to improve dietary recommendations call for a new approach to food based on a concept called the "Nourishment Table". This model proposes nutrition that respects individual, cultural, and economic needs, focusing on food self-determination. According to the researchers, food security risks increase when nutrient-dense foods like meat are restricted or taxed, leading to higher prices and, consequently, greater food insecurity.

From an ecological perspective, experts at the Denver symposium noted that the livestock sector is often accused of contributing to climate change but proposed that proper livestock management can sustainably promote soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. However, it was noted that unbalanced public policies based on partial assessments may harm rural communities without producing significant ecological improvements.

Another central theme was using technology in livestock production to improve sustainability and efficiency, with solutions such as artificial intelligence and genetic selection for potential large-scale positive impacts. It was acknowledged that adoption of these technologies is often hindered by regulations and resistance, limiting opportunities for improvement, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Delaying access to innovations like genetic improvement carries significant costs in terms of unfulfilled benefits, particularly for critical issues like animal diseases.

The Summit emphasised that adopting new technologies in agriculture must be done ethically, considering obligations to animals, people, and the environment. Additionally, it highlighted the need for effective communication between scientists, producers, and the public: trust in new discoveries and scientific recommendations largely depends on scientists' ability to clearly and transparently explain the benefits of their research while minimising biases.

The importance of communication

An interesting point acknowledged was that the public often finds producers more credible than scientists. Consequently, it is essential to improve scientific communication, making scientists more accountable for sharing their findings and ensuring that they are understandable and relevant to society.*

According to the first speaker at the two-day event, Charlie Arnot, Executive Officer of the Center for Food Integrity: "What we need to be able to do is to change our mindset and understand that scientists must communicate in a very different way. They'll have to engage more frequently. We think it is a communication function, but it is a sector function. The entire industry has to embrace this approach to say we will communicate based on values. We will introduce science when permitted and sustain that approach for decades because this is a generational challenge. It will not happen quickly, so it is important to understand science's role."

The Denver Call For Action

During the Summit, it was announced that a "Denver Call For Action" will be published in "Animal Frontiers" in early 2025. It will advocate for a global policy, and media shift towards prioritising proper nourishment of global populations based on more evidence-based dietary recommendations that respect diverse dietary needs and cultural contexts.

The Call will also address the ecological role of livestock systems, warning against oversimplified policies and arguing for steering away from one-size-fits-all approaches. In general, the Call will insist on higher standards of scientific evidence in policymaking, underscoring the importance of transparency, rigour, and respect for science. *Regarding scientists and communication, we recommend watching the interview with Professor Frederic Leroy (Free University of Brussels) and Eleanor Luther from the Global Meat Alliance.

Article published on ELV - European Livestock Voice.