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CEO Commentary by Mike McMorris

The livestock we raise today are very different than those of only a few decades ago. Through genetic selection, today’s animals have increased production and better health. It’s safe to say, though, that the animals we will need in the future are not those of today. 

With increased variability in weather, increased probability of foreign animal diseases, and changing consumer preferences, we need to be looking ahead and using the tools at our disposal to create the animals we need. Enter gene editing or GE for short.

All living things are designed by their genetics, specifically their DNA, which is written in a language with four letters. For example, in humans and cattle, there are about three billion such letters in our DNA. Of course, we, and cattle, are set on a course by our DNA and then are affected in many ways by the environment we are exposed to. 

Past genetic selection programs used measures of performance (e.g. milk yield) as the foundation of selecting the next generation. Many sectors have now added information gained through DNA tests (genomics) and as a result, genetic evaluations are now more accurate and available on traits that are hard or impossible to measure directly. 

The next step forward is GE which involves the direct change of DNA by changing specific letters in an animal’s DNA. This is done using tools like CRISPR-Cas9, brought to the forefront about ten years ago. So, we can now make accurate and fast changes to animals in the pursuit of “better”. 

Two big challenges remain: how do we define “better” and how do we ensure that the regulatory system both protects (animals, people, environment) yet enables the creation of better? 

One example of GE to protect human health is using edited mosquitoes (whose female offspring do not survive) to reduce mosquito populations and with it, the incidence of mosquito-borne human diseases including malaria. 

A livestock equivalent would be the release of similarly gene-edited wild boars to reduce the wild boar population in Canada. The intent would be the protection of the Canadian swine industry. In the event of an African Swine Fever (ASF) incursion in Canada, all of the eradication, zoning and other measures could still leave us short of the goal line when working to reopen international markets, home to about 70% of our product. That is because wild boars act as a reservoir for swine disease, ASF included.

The regulation of genetic editing of livestock is under discussion in many countries. Canada cannot afford to be left behind.