How will agricultural biotechnology and gene editing fit into the future of U.S. agriculture?
The House Committee on Agriculture’s livestock and biotechnology subcommittees held a joint hearing on Wednesday to discuss this important question. Lawmakers and witnesses also discussed the impacts on agricultural innovation of the current regulatory process, the need for public-private partnerships and more funding for land grant universities to help foster technological advances.
In a letter sent to Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA) and Ranking Member Glenn Thompson (R-PA) ahead of the hearing, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and 22 other agricultural organizations urged the lawmakers to support continued work in this area in a way that will allow these important innovations to come to fruition.
“Science and innovation are moving swiftly. To realize these important applications and their benefits, we must have federal policies that are risk and science-based and will permit the meaningful adoption of these products by producers, supply chains, and consumers,” the letter said.
During “Agricultural Biotechnology: 21st Century Advancements and Applications,” panel members Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), chairwoman of the biotechnology subcommittee, and Jim Baird (R-Ind.) mentioned a recent congressional letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, asking that their agencies work together to modernize the process for regulating gene edited animals.
Climate change, food security and consumer acceptance were key issues of discussion brought up by Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chair Jim Costa (D-Calif.) in his opening statement at the hearing. Although it’s not a silver bullet, Costa said biotechnology is an important tool that can help the food system increase its resilience in a changing world.
“Having a resilient food system that can adapt to changing global dynamics is an important part of national security. Integrating new technologies into agriculture is one way that we can prepare for change. I commend our biotechnology researchers and advocates who are creating ways for farmers and ranchers to build more sustainable and productive agricultural systems,” Costa shared.
NPPC supports USDA’s proposal to exercise primary jurisdiction over gene editing in livestock.
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
Ag Needs White House Support on Gene-Edited Livestock Oversight
Could Genome Editing Eliminate Need for Surgical Castration of Swine?
Gene-Edited Livestock: Male Surrogates Successfully Made Fertile
