Emerging technologies like CRISPR gene editing have the potential to improve animal health, strengthen food production and advance sustainability. But whether those innovations ultimately succeed may depend on something just as important as the science itself: how well scientists communicate with the people they hope to serve.
Gene editing is used to make a tiny, controlled change to DNA. By replacing a segment of DNA, scientists have the ability to remove undesirable or problematic genes.
Those in agriculture know to survive, you must adapt and innovate. One way to do this is by embracing technology. Among the most promising—and sometimes most debated—tools is gene editing; a technology that’s transforming the way we grow food and care for animals.
For over three decades, pork producers worldwide have grappled with the relentless threat of PRRS—a virus that not only harms pig health and welfare but also disrupts pork production, strains sustainability, and fuels antibiotic use by weakening pigs’ immune defenses. But with the help of the CRISPR technology, there may be a solution on the horizon.
Technology is helping to transform agriculture and the way food is produced. And while a new era in agriculture is being ushered in, it’s important to understand that technology. For example, though GMO’s and gene editing are often mentioned in the same breath, they are fundamentally different.
