The Food and Drug Administration has approved a gene edit used to create pigs resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, or PRRS.
The Pig Improvement Co., a subsidiary of Genus PLC, said it would use the gene edit to breed PRRS-resistant pigs. “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 said.
PIC said approval does not automatically trigger commercialization in the U.S.
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Matt Culbertson, PIC’s Chief Operating Officer, called FDA’s green light “an important step in this process, and we are working with additional countries to gain regulatory approval and protect global trade prior to initiating sales and delivery.”
“Addressing PRRS can allow us to improve animal welfare and reduce the environmental impact of raising pigs,” said Banks Baker, Global Director of Product Sustainability. “Recent research indicates that PRRS increases the need for antibiotics by more than 200%. Plus, a recent ISO-conformant lifecycle assessment found that eliminating PRRS could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% in the U.S.”
A 2024 study by Iowa State found PRRS costs U.S. pork producers $1.2 billion per year.
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