Experts call for evidence-based decision making on meat policies across the world

WORLD – Scientists behind the Dublin Declaration have once again urged policymakers to base decisions on high-quality scientific evidence when considering meat production and its place in diets. 

The group of experts, who convened in Dublin in 2022, expressed concern that global policies advocating for reduced meat consumption are often grounded in insufficient evidence. 

Their gathering led to the creation of the Dublin Declaration, which has now been endorsed by over 1,200 scientists worldwide.

At a recent meeting in Denver, held last month, the group, alongside industry representatives from around the globe, examined a variety of scientific research on meat production. 

This session culminated in the release of the Denver Call for Action, further supporting the Dublin Declaration and reaffirming its call for evidence-based policy decisions.

The Dublin Declaration, initiated at the 2022 International Summit on the Societal Role of Meat, calls for livestock systems to be managed according to the highest scientific standards. 

It warns against reducing these systems to oversimplified or ideologically-driven narratives. 

The Declaration stresses that livestock systems play a crucial role in society and should continue to operate with broad societal support.

As the global landscape of meat consumption shifts, recent data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals a mixed outlook for meat production in 2024. 

The FAO’s annual report forecasts global animal protein output to reach 371 million tons next year, reflecting growth in most regions, except Asia, where a decrease in pork production is expected due to reduced pork processing in China.

The biggest growth is anticipated in poultry, particularly chicken, with a projected 0.8% increase, adding 1.1 million tons to bring the total to 146 million tons. 

This growth is attributed to sustained consumer demand for affordable chicken despite rising inflation. 

Conversely, beef production is expected to rise by 0.7% or 0.5 million tons, driven by the availability of cattle. 

Pork production, however, is expected to fall by 0.9%, decreasing by 1.2 million tons, largely due to China’s efforts to manage supply and stabilize domestic prices.

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