Genetically Modified Organisms

The next frontier for biotech appears to be in flogging genetically modified organisms for food production. Although genetically modified foods in the form of grains and vegetables have generally proven acceptable Stateside--or at least Americans don't express so much disapproval of it unlike, say, the Europeans--modifying animals may be a trickier proposition as it involves, ah, livestock. Hence, growing activity in this space is hinged on regulatory approval of such foods Stateside. Strangely enough, this nascent industry is seeking more regulation to ensure consumer confidence. Again, I don't think Europeans will be so open to this latest edition of "Frankenfoods." However, I think Americans will be more accepting, or at least indifferent to the introduction of GMOs. From the International Herald Tribune:

This little piggy's manure causes less pollution. This little piggy produces extra milk for her babies. And this little piggy makes fatty acids normally found in fish, so that eating its bacon might actually be good for you.

The three pigs, all now living in experimental farmyards, are among the genetically engineered animals whose meat might one day turn up on American dinner plates. Bioengineers have also developed salmon that grow to market weight in about half the typical time, disease-resistant cows and catfish needing fewer antibiotics, and goats whose milk might help ward off infections in children who drink it.

Only now, though, do U.S. officials seem to be getting serious about drafting rules that would determine whether and how such meat, milk and filets can safely enter the nation's food supply.

Some scientists and biotechnology executives say that by having the Food and Drug Administration spell out the rules of the game, big investors would finally be willing to put up money to create a market in so-called transgenic livestock.

"Right now, it's very hard to get any corporate investment," said James Murray, a professor at the University of California, Davis, who developed the goats with the infection-fighting milk. "What studies do you need to do? What are they looking for?" he said, referring to government regulators. "That stuff's not there."

But some experts caution that even if the clears the regulatory path in coming months, investors and agribusiness companies might still shy away. Many fear that consumers would shun foods from transgenic animals, sometimes referred to as genetically modified organisms...

"The companies we have spoken to have gone organic, and they are very concerned, at least up to the present time, of having associated with their name," said Cecil Forsberg, a professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, who helped developed the "Enviropig" with the cleaner manure. Smithfield Foods, for one, the world's largest hog producer and pork processor, says it is doing no research on genetically engineered animals.

Critics say changing the genes of animals could lead to potentially harmful changes in the composition of milk or meat, like the introduction of a protein that could cause allergic reactions. They say there could also be risks to the environment if, for example, extra-large salmon were to escape into oceans and out-compete wild salmon for food or mates. Some also say that some of he processes used to create transgenic livestock can harm the animals themselves.

The U.S. guidelines would come after more than 15 years of talks and false starts at the , a delay irking not only developers of the transgenic animals but also critics of biotechnology. "The fact that the agency has sat there for years staring this problem in the face and really hasn't come up with a clear way to regulate this is abdicating its responsibilities," said Joseph Mendelson, the legal director of the Center for Food Safety, a Washington advocacy group.

Even now, the will not say when the rules will be ready.

"We want to get it out, but we also want to get it right," said Julie Zawisza, a spokeswoman for the agency, which declined to make any other officials available for comment.

Some industry executives and former and current government officials say one reason for the delay was that some government officials, in part because of a preference for fewer regulations, wanted less stringent rules than the is considering.

Meanwhile, the biotechnology industry is actually pushing for the tougher standards. "Our overarching goal is to have public confidence in our products," said Barbara Glenn, the managing director for animal issues at the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a trade group. "We won't have that unless we have a very strong review process."

The is turning to transgenic animals after having tentatively declared in December that milk and meat from livestock that is cloned — but not otherwise genetically manipulated — was safe for people to eat...