Navigating Ethical Frontiers: Gene Editing in Livestock Farming
Biologically-altered livestock: stringent regulations imperative before authorization, assert ethicists
Methods may potentially fortify farm animals against ailments, yet apprehensions linger over a potential decline in welfare standards
Before genetic manipulation techniques are greenlit for commercial livestock usage, it is imperative to establish rigorous regulatory frameworks to safeguard the well-being of farm animals, caution ethicists.
The formidable potential of gene-editing methods to enhance contemporary agriculture by conferring resistance to heat and ailments, diminishing methane emissions, and bolstering productivity is acknowledged. However, the same methodologies may exacerbate dilemmas concerning animal welfare, notes the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
While genome editing for animal husbandry has yet to be widely adopted on farms, the promise it holds for agriculture has spurred widespread research endeavors globally, resulting in experimental animals that underscore the feasibility of this approach. In September, the UK government unveiled plans to advance legislation facilitating limited genome editing in animal breeding practices.
“Delineating measures to integrate genome editing into animal breeding initiatives necessitates prioritizing animal welfare,” emphasizes Danielle Hamm, director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
In a discourse addressing the societal and ethical implications associated with genome editing in farm animals, ethicists elucidate the potential merits of this technology. For instance, rendering pigs resistant to the prevalent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus or preventing the growth of horns that pose risks of injury to other animals.
Conversely, concerns loom over applications that could significantly compromise animal welfare. Elizabeth Cripps, co-author of the report and senior lecturer in political theory at Edinburgh University, underscores apprehensions regarding the creation of animals capable of enduring substandard conditions without apparent health repercussions. She asserts, “Such alterations could obfuscate the reality of animals enduring unacceptable living conditions.” Additionally, there are grave concerns regarding the breeding of animals devoid of the physiological capacity to lead fulfilling lives.
Ethicists advocate for immediate public discourse preceding the authorization of genome editing for commercial agriculture. They propose the establishment of an independent entity to collaborate with breeders and institute a “traffic light system” for assessing the welfare of farmed animals. Under this framework, green signifies animals capable of thriving in well-managed husbandry systems, amber suggests that further breeding may imperil animal welfare, and red denotes animals lacking an acceptable quality of life and unsuitable for commercial farming.
Bruce Whitelaw, professor of animal biotechnology at the Roslin Institute, where Dolly the Sheep was cloned, underscores the potential of genome editing in agriculture. He remarks, “We have demonstrated the capacity of this technology to mitigate livestock diseases, as evidenced by the production of PRRS-resistant pigs at Roslin. Implementation of this application on farms would undoubtedly enhance animal welfare.” He advocates for a comprehensive dialogue to explore the agricultural benefits of genome editing and identify incentives to facilitate ethical and equitable livestock breeding practices.
Katrien Devolder, affiliated with the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, advocates for a multifaceted approach to addressing concerns surrounding factory farming practices. She suggests, “While the ideal scenario involves reforming farming practices rather than altering animals to adapt, if the former proves unattainable, leveraging genome editing while concurrently pursuing structural reforms within factory farming may offer a viable solution.” This could involve amalgamating genome editing with elevated taxes on meat, eggs, and dairy from factory farms, or promoting the production of lab-grown meat and sustainable farming practices.