A POP-UP exhibition will invite people to “meat their persona” when it arrives in Glasgow this week.
It aims to start conversations with the public about the impact of meat consumption on the environment, as well as health, backed up by the latest research.
Visitors to the interactive installation, which opens on Friday can discover what “meat persona” they are, learn how to make their eating habits better for their own health and the health of the planet, talk to researchers about the latest insights on meat production and consumption and share their own views.
The initiative draws on research from Livestock Environment and People (Leap) at the University of Oxford which shows that eating high quantities of processed and unprocessed meat is associated with higher risks of colorectal cancer and ischemic heart disease among other diseases.
The scientists have also found that even if all fossil fuel emissions are cut immediately, climate change targets would still not be reached without also cutting food emissions.
As the installation tours it will be collecting comments from people across the country to share with policy and decision-makers in order to inform future food policy.
Funded by Wellcome, the installation has been created by public engagement experts The Liminal Space.
Professor of population and diet health Susan Jebb, Leap’s co-director, said: “‘Meat Your Persona’ will provide our researchers with invaluable insights into how people in the UK are thinking about meat consumption and hopefully encourage individuals to think more deeply about the impact their food choices have on our environment. This is often a difficult conversation to have.
“However we feel The Liminal Space has created a positive and engaging way to connect the public with our research.”
Visitors to the installation will find a series of structures, each housing part of an interactive quiz where they can discover which one of the six “meat personas” they are from part-time carnivore to adventurous eater, before learning how to make their eating habits better for their own health and the health of the planet. Leap will be on-hand to share the latest insights on meat research.
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