Communicating the Evidence
A GMA read on sharing the science supporting the role of meat to key influencers.
Through working closely with the organisers behind the Dublin Summit, GMA were made aware of an opportune engagement happening late January in Warsaw, Poland. The Polish Beef Association held their 9th Beef Forum at which, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski was the keynote speaker. The scientists responsible for the Dublin Summit were invited to not only present to the forum, but to present in person to the key cabinet members of the Commissioner to showcase the science which evidently supports - the place of meat in a healthy, sustainable diet.
Ensuring that the evidence presented at the Dublin Summit is visible to the European Commissioner is of huge significance, particularly given some of the anti-meat sentiment coming out of the European Union (EU) in recent times. In addition, delivering this information in a space where the Commissioner is highly engaged proves an opportunity to talk through how these robust messages can be further distributed to other channels within the EU.
As has been made easier through previous years, GMA were lucky enough to dial into the formal part of this forum to watch both Commissioner Wojciechowski’s speech and the presentation delivered by the scientists immediately after. So, as I settled down on a balmy summers’ night, with a glass of wine in hand and a rather large steak (it was a Friday after all) I zoomed into Warsaw from Sydney, Australia to recap the following for our network.
As has been made easier through previous years, GMA were lucky enough to dial into the formal part of this forum to watch both Commissioner Wojciechowski’s speech and the presentation delivered by the scientists immediately after. So, as I settled down on a balmy summers’ night, with a glass of wine in hand and a rather large steak (it was a Friday after all) I zoomed into Warsaw from Sydney, Australia to recap the following for our network.
After being warmly welcomed by President of the Polish Beef Association, Jerzy Wierzbicki, Commissioner Wojciechowski took to the stage to deliver the keynote. He explained that the next agricultural policy of the European Union (Common Agricultural Policy) will set the agenda for 2027 and beyond. Although this next version will be created by the next European Commission (EC), he was very much invested in establishing the foundations for this to be built upon.
Commissioner Wojciechowski commended farmers on ensuring food security after a tough three years in which the sector had to navigate an extreme number of challenges. He identified the need to better support farmers through upcoming crisis and unprecedented events in addition to pledging to advocate for stronger crisis management budgets to be set in place. He noted that the current crisis reserve of EUR 500 million is insufficient to expect farmers to deliver on food, environmental and climate security.
Commissioner Wojciechowski also applauded the sector for the promotion of the industry acknowledging the importance of this, given the problems with succession. Providing a segway into the presentations to follow, he firmly stated that we need to deliver strong arguments to counteract the misinformation around limiting meat production in the EU. From here, Prof. Dr. Peer Ederer introduced a group of scientists, each to deliver their own specific presentation, to the forum.
Alongside Peer, the scientists (Prof. Alice Stanton, Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Windisch, Prof. Jean-Francois Hocquette and PhD Pablo Manzano Baena) shared various evidence to the forum on all aspects of meat and its societal role. Peer summarized these insights as: First, meat consumption is not a risk to your health, whereas not eating meat, is quite risky. Second, we need livestock animals to achieve agricultural circularity. Sustainable agriculture is not possible without livestock, Third, we need grazing ruminants to maintain ecological balance in many of the critical biomes of the world. And fourth: there is no technology in sight that would replace the animals anytime soon. If you are pro human health, pro sustainability, and pro ecological balance, then you need to be pro livestock as well.Versions of these presentations can be sourced here (as delivered at the Dublin Summit).
Speaking to Peer after the event, the meeting between the scientists and Commissioner Wojciechowski also proved fruitful. The meeting showcased the paramount importance of delivering valid scientific evidence to policy makers, so that they can take it into the political process. The Dublin Declaration of Scientists is proving to be a valuable platform for this purpose.