Leading animal agriculture organizations across the globe have come together to sign an open letter pushing back against recent misinformation surrounding livestock and the pandemic.
The groups represent millions of farmers, producers and veterinarians who call on local governments to reaffirm the safety of livestock production by reminding consumers of a robust food safety system, refute that livestock is a link to the spread of coronavirus and consult with experts to better understand the feed and food chain.
“Our world needs the contributions of livestock. Globally, 1.3 billion people depend on livestock for their employment, while billions more rely on livestock to provide food for their families,” the letter states. “Animal agriculture provides milk, meat, fish and eggs at a time when access to safe, nutritious and affordable food is necessary to fend off a potential global hunger crisis, and offers invaluable support for farmers facing severe, often existential, economic hardships.”
Some who signed the letter include Animal Agriculture Alliance, World Veterinary Association, International Livestock Research Institute Animal Agriculture Alliance, North American Meat Institute and American Feed Industry Association, and faculty at UC Davis, Iowa State, and University of Arkansas.
Similar groups from Europe and Canada signed the letter as well.
You can read the entire letter here.