A new report by InfluenceMap, released today, reveals the advocacy tactics used by the European meat and dairy industry to stall EU policies aimed at addressing livestock greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the transition to sustainable diets. The findings highlight that backsliding on climate and environmental policy in Europe cannot be explained solely by pressure from the farmers protests seen in recent months. In fact, years of the corporate meat and dairy sector's strategic narrative building along with detailed policy engagement, both of which mirror fossil fuel industry tactics, have played a pivotal role.
The report analyzes the advocacy of the ten largest meat and dairy companies in Europe, and the five biggest industry associations, on six key EU policies aimed at tackling GHG emissions in agriculture. It finds that, following intense lobbying efforts from industry players two of the six policies were significantly weakened, and three appear to have stalled completely. These include policies such as the EU Sustainable Food Systems Framework, a "flagship" policy of the Farm to Fork Strategy to transition to sustainable diets, and the revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive, which regulates pollutant emissions from European farms, including methane. The European People's Party (EPP) appears to have adopted the sector's narratives to oppose legislation which may have also contributed to the frustration of these policies' success.
The report finds that key actors in the meat and dairy sector have used two key narratives in order to frame how it is perceived by consumers and policymakers. These are: emphasizing the importance of livestock for society; and distancing livestock from being viewed as a driver of climate change. InfluenceMap has previously detected similar tactics used in the fossil gas sector to maintain a role for gas in the energy mix.
These twin narratives, and their sub-narratives, appear repeatedly in consultation responses, public statements and social media produced by the meat and dairy sector – as well as in direct communication between the entities assessed in this report and the EU Agricultural Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski. They are also repeatedly used by the EPP both in the EU Commission and EU Parliament, and in public statements. This betrays the close relationship between industry and policymakers, suggesting an element of corporate capture in this space. All of the narratives used stand in contradiction to the latest science-based recommendations by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 2022 and 2019 reports and the 2019 EAT-Lancet study, a scientific review of how to transition to sustainable and healthy diets from a sustainable food system.
Key further findings of companies and industry association advocacy include:
Venetia Roxburgh, EU program lead at InfluenceMap, said:
“Meat and dairy producers and the industry associations representing them appear to be borrowing tactics and narratives from the fossil fuel playbook in order to hold back policies to tackle its GHG emissions. Following obstructive behavior from the industry, and the infiltration of industry narratives in the EU Parliament and EU Commission, policies that are fundamental to reducing GHG emissions in line with scientific advice have been significantly weakened or have stalled. Without science-based policies tackling the sector, it does not seem likely that European agricultural GHG emissions will reduce in line with 1.5°C."
Chris Packham, TV Broadcaster and Environmental Campaigner, said:
"Farmers are struggling with extreme levels of rainfall and flooding which will soon be reflected in the costs at our supermarket tills. But the longer-term environmental and economic costs will be catastrophic unless our governments' policies are influenced by science, rather than an industry with vested interests.
Corporations and industry have a critical role in addressing climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, but this report clearly highlights that expert advice and recommendations are being drowned out and watered-down by self-serving advocates.
These lobbyists are focused on sowing doubt, when farmers should be sowing crops. As our fields remain waterlogged, these industry associations are flooding the meeting rooms of policymakers and the public narrative with misinformation.
The issues of livestock emissions and a need to transition to a more plant-based food system require the farming industry to work boldly and quickly alongside government and scientists to strengthen climate policies, not weaken them."
Click here for full report, graphics, and quotes
For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Kitty Hatchley, Press Officer, InfluenceMap (London)
E: kitty.hatchley {@} influencemap.org