Challenges and opportunities for defining the role and value of meat for our global society and economy

Polkinghorne, Rod; Koohmaraie, M.; Kaster, Collette Schultz; Troy, Declan J.; Rosati, A.

doi:10.1093/af/vfad002

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Given the importance of meat in society, there is a need to urgently examine the best way forward for underpinning scientific funding, industry translation and collaboration in the area. Polkinghorne et al (2023b) argued that in many countries, resources and staff associated with meat production have declined to critically low levels, threatening both fundamental research and industry support. In Australia, we are increasingly left with pockets of strength in some universities as State and Federal government funded institutions with expertise in meat are in decline.…”

Section: The Path Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, other countries outside one's own are typically seen as competitors rather than collaborators. The International Meat Research 3G Foundation, a not-for-profit international eating-quality research platform linked to the United Nations Economic Commission, is an example of a mechanism to underpin more collaboration across participating countries (Polkinghorne et al 2023b). Clearly, the challenges underpinning the Dublin Declaration require urgent global collaboration and solutions.…”

Section: The Path Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The societal role of meat: the Dublin Declaration with an Australian perspective

et al. 2023

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It is clear that the societal role of meat is being challenged with ideological and simplified logic without substantiation from robust data-driven science. With this background, the international summit titled ‘The societal role of meat – what the science says’ was held in Dublin, Ireland, during October 2022, to provide evidence-based evaluations and the Dublin Declaration was signed by over 1000 scientists. In this paper, we provide a synopsis of the summit and then give context for evaluating the societal role of meat in Australia. The key themes of the summit were the essential roles of meat in (1) diet and health, (2) a sustainable environment and (3) society, economics and culture. Evidence clearly showed the role of meat as a nutrient-dense source of high-quality protein and micronutrients that can be safely consumed by humans. Further, the complementary role of livestock in agricultural systems was highlighted with both plant- and animal-based agriculture reliant on each other to maximise the efficient production of food. Thus, from both an Australian and world perspective, very little food considered to be human-edible is fed to livestock. The role of livestock in rural societies across the world was emphasised to underpin regional and national economies, with particular importance in those countries with developing economies to facilitate growing wealth to ‘step out’ of poverty and provide gender equality. Meat production, particularly from ruminants, is a critical part of Australian primary production and it is concluded that the Dublin Declaration is highly relevant to Australia. Finally, concern regarding future funding and organisation of research and extension is discussed. There is a need to continue funding highly collaborative programs that bring a broad range of disciplines together, in conjunction with undergraduate and postgraduate teaching to underpin the social license to operate for meat and livestock production.

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Section: The Path Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Path Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%