Teagasc rebuffs 'Guardian' claim and says food firms do not influence its research

The statement in favour of the meat industry was signed by more than 1,000 scientists at an event hosted by Teagasc in Dublin in 2022. Picture: iStock

State agriculture agency Teagasc has said that the contracts it holds with food businesses specifically preclude those companies from influencing the output of the body’s research activities.

The agency’s statement of its position comes after the Guardian revealed that a public statement in favour of the meat industry, signed by more than 1,000 scientists at an event held by Teagasc in Dublin last year, had numerous links to the livestock industry.