Scientists challenge ‘misleading’ Dublin declaration defending meat consumption

A declaration with 1,000 signatories supporting meat consumption and industrial agricultural production has been challenged by a group of scientists, led by Dr. Chris Bryant from the University of Bath.

In a Nature Food commentary, 12 scientists from research institutions around the world argue that the “Dublin Declaration” narrowly focuses on benefits from a small minority of livestock while overlooking the clear harms of the majority of livestock for human health and the environment.

In particular, the paper argues that the “Dublin Declaration” focuses on livestock in the developing world and agroecological systems—but fails to acknowledge that the vast majority of livestock are in higher-income countries and industrial farming systems.

This commentary comes ahead of “The Dublin Declaration” summit in Colorado at the end of October.

Launched in 2022, the Declaration, backed by over 1,000 signatories, claims meat, dairy and eggs provide essential nutrients and environmental benefits. However, an investigation by The Guardian revealed that the document has ties to the livestock industry and has been used to lobby against EU environmental policies.

Dr. Chris Bryant, an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Bath, said, “The Dublin Declaration overgeneralizes evidence that applies to only 2% of global livestock and fails to acknowledge the serious and acute harms associated with livestock production and consumption at current levels, particularly in high- and upper-middle-income countries, where over 75% of meat is consumed.”

The commentary, co-authored by scientists from top global research institutions including the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, dismantles the Declaration’s argument that reducing meat consumption is unnecessary.

Dr. Bryant added, “The Dublin Declaration was deliberately crafted by livestock industry activists to mislead policymakers into believing that there is no need to cut meat consumption. Now more than ever, we must face up to the complex challenges surrounding livestock production globally and heed the urgent calls to curb industrial livestock farming in high-income countries.”

This public rebuttal comes ahead of “The Dublin Declaration” summit in Colorado at the end of October. The organizers say the summit will “encourage open, frank, and transparent dialogue among an international audience about what the science says about the role of livestock and meat (including poultry) production in a global society.”

But Dr. Bryant added, “It remains crucial that scientific rigor and transparency take precedence over industry-backed narratives, especially when it comes to the pressing challenges of our health, environmental sustainability, and the future of our food systems.”