The gene edit used in PIC’s PRRS-resistant pig has been determined safe and effective by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA granted approval to PIC on April 30, putting PIC among the first companies to gain approval for gene editing in commercial livestock in the U.S.
“We have spent years conducting extensive research, validating our findings and working with the FDA to gain approval,” Matt Culbertson, PIC’s chief operating officer, says in a release. “Today marks a major milestone for consumers, farmers and the entire pork industry who have desperately hoped for a solution to PRRS.”
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) costs the U.S. pork industry more than $1.2 billion per year. This FDA-approved gene edit will be used to breed PIC’s PRRS-resistant pigs, which are resistant to this devastating, global swine disease.
“PRRS causes needless suffering and premature death for pigs, negatively impacts animal welfare, exacerbates the need for antibiotics and increases the environmental impact of raising pigs,” PIC says in a release.
But Will Consumers Accept It?
Although the disease-resistant technology is new, pork from PRRS-resistant pigs is no different than the pork consumers already know and love, PIC says, except for resistance to the infection caused by the PRRS virus. This was confirmed by a recent study which reviewed 97 meat quality and composition data points.
In this study conducted by Circana, 72% of consumers like the idea of the PRRS-resistant pig and its benefits after reading a description of gene editing in food and the PRRS-resistant pig.
“When you talk about the benefits, because they align with what the consumer has been demanding of the food supply for years now, they’re really excited about what the technology can do,” says Marisa Pooley, PIC director of communications and engagement. Read more about what consumers think about gene-edited pork.
Addressing PRRS can allow the pork industry to improve animal welfare and reduce the environmental impact of raising pigs, says Banks Baker, global director of product sustainability.
“Recent research indicates that PRRS increases the need for antibiotics by more than 200%,” Baker says. “Plus, a recent ISO-conformant lifecycle assessment found that eliminating PRRS could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% in the U.S.”
When Will Commercialization in the U.S. Occur?
FDA approval does not automatically trigger commercialization, PIC says. Approval is an important step, but Culbertson adds it’s just one part of the overall strategy.
“Because pork is a globally traded commodity, we need to receive additional approvals from other countries around the globe, such as Canada, Mexico, Japan and China, to allow producers in the pork chain to freely trade pork back and forth,” Culbertson says. “We expect to achieve those other regulatory approvals over the next, hopefully six to 18 months, and that will really be the trigger point for the commercialization and sale of the product in the various markets.”
Colombia and Brazil have already issued positive determinations for the technology used in PRRS-resistant pigs, meaning those countries will regulate them the same as any other pigs.
“We are committed to the responsible and intentional introduction of the PRRS-resistant pig around the globe,” Culbertson says.
The PRRS-resistant pig will not be commercialized in the U.S. until at least 2026.
Read more:
In the Driver’s Seat: Consumers Share What They Think About Gene-Edited Pork
What You Need to Know Now About the PRRS-Resistant Pig
What Does the Future Hold for the PRRS-Resistant Pig?
Data Makes the Difference: PIC Seeks Answers to Environmental Impact of Genetics
Colombia is First Country to Issue Positive Regulatory Determination for PRRS-Resistant Pig
