Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
376. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the position of his Department on the involvement of Teagasc in the production of the Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Livestock; his views on the conflict of interests as outlined by the recent Greenpeace UK investigation into the declaration (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49490/23]
View answerTeagasc was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, as the national agency with responsibility for the provision of research, training and advisory services to the agriculture and food industry.
Teagasc routinely hosts international scientific conferences to bring together the latest science available on a particular topic, and to facilitate discussion around the science. The outputs from such conferences are published for the public to read and evaluate the outcomes.
Teagasc hosted an International Summit on the Societal Role of Meat on 19 October 2022. It brought together experts on the role of livestock farming and meat in diet and health; society, and a sustainable environment.
Summit attendees, with academic and scientific credentials, were invited to sign the ‘Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Meat'. No companies or organisations could sign the Declaration and individuals who signed had to be scientists working in the relevant area. Teagasc has advised that it did not host the Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Meat.
I see no conflict in Teagasc working in partnership with clients, policymakers and industry for the overall betterment of the agri-food sector, the environment and the economy in general. I do, however, appreciate that as a science-based organisation, it is important that Teagasc’s research integrity and independence is maintained at all times.
In that regard, I welcome the fact that Teagasc has contracts in place with industry partners to ensure that they will not have any influence over the publications of the outputs of Teagasc research or knowledge transfer programmes.
