While the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation grows, what remains true is the vital role of animal agriculture and animal-source foods in human health, our environment and in our societies.
These are the key considerations in the role of animal agriculture.
Health and Nutrition
Human health is inseparable from nutrition, and healthy diets include a mix of locally available plant and animal sourced foods. Incorporation of meat and milk in human diets is directly linked to our evolution over four million years, with these nutritionally-dense, highly bioavailable foods related to specialised gut and brain development.
Environment
Food production from plants and animals impacts the natural environment in various ways. It affects things like land and water usage, the natural balance of greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration, and biodiversity conservation.
Societal
Livestock are a critical part of life, indeed survival, for many in the worlds’ poorest countries. Supporting the livelihoods of a billion people in Africa, Asia and Latin America, they provide food, income and a safety net in time of crisis. Cattle also have a central cultural role in many ethnic groups.
Research standards and credible evidence
Research standards exist to safeguard the credibility, reliability, and societal value of scholarly inquiry. They define the principles, expectations, and practices that ensure research is conducted with integrity, rigor, transparency, and accountability.
