Revealed: the industry figures behind ‘declaration of scientists’ backing meat eating

Document used to target top EU officials over environmental and health policies but climate experts view it as propaganda

A public statement signed by more than 1,000 scientists in support of meat production and consumption has numerous links to the livestock industry, the Guardian can reveal. The statement has been used to target top EU officials against environmental and health policies and has been endorsed by the EU agriculture commissioner.

The Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Livestock" says livestock are too precious to society to become the victim of simplification, reductionism or zealotry" and calls for a balanced view of the future of animal agriculture". One of the authors of the declaration is an economist who called veganism an eating disorder requiring psychological treatment".