E.SSC.0001 - E.SSC.0001 - Red Meat in Society/Denver summit participation
At the Denver Summit, scientists urged global industry and policymakers to rely on scientific evidence about meat's role in society to combat anti-meat ideologies eroding the industry's social license.
| Project start date: | 24 June 2024 |
| Project end date: | 30 May 2025 |
| Publication date: | 14 August 2026 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | All species |
| Relevant regions: | National, International |
Summary
There is an urgent need to counter the widespread belief that livestock, particularly beef, are harmful to human health and the environment. Despite strong scientific evidence to the contrary, well-funded anti-meat messaging has gained significant traction. Addressing this misinformation is now recognized as a priority to ensure accurate public understanding and support for the industry.
Objectives
- The consultant will attend the "International Summit on the Role of Meat & Livestock in Society" in Denver. This event serves as a follow-up to the "The Societal Role of Meat – What the Science Says" meeting held in Dublin in October 2022.
- The summit will facilitate discussions with an international audience regarding scientific perspectives on the role of livestock and meat production in global society.
- A comprehensive report will be produced to summarize the outcomes of the summit, highlighting trends and considerations for future investments.
Key findings
- Balanced Nutrients: Meat and milk are identified as essential sources of balanced nutrients. These are crucial to meet the dietary needs of the anticipated additional 2 billion people by 2050.
- Nutrition Priority: For populations most at risk, the need for adequate nutrition is paramount. This priority surpasses environmental and other concerns, emphasizing the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies.
- Malnutrition: Malnutrition is a significant issue globally. In third-world countries, food shortages contribute to this problem. In the global north, high-carbohydrate diets that lack nutritional balance exacerbate malnutrition.
Benefits to industry
A better understanding of current threats to the social license to operate, confidence in the positive evidence and grasping the need to respond through large scale well targeted communication.
MLA action
The large Australian contingent at the Denver summit, including senior representatives from RMAC, AUS-MEAT, MLA, AMPC, AMIC, Cattle Australia, and Sheep Meat Producers, demonstrated strong interest and a desire for action. Meetings at the summit and subsequent discussions have reinforced a collaborative industry strategy to integrate evidence collation and communication expertise into the new 5-year planning cycle.
Future research
There is a need to maintain a readily accessible repository of evidence on livestock and meat, supported by AMPC and MLA, requiring funding for two full-time staff. This includes maintaining the data library, ensuring web security, and providing access to full references. Independence of the science is crucial for credibility and support from scientists.
More information
| Project manager: | Sarah Strachan |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
