Genetically Modified Pigs for Human Consumption

Researchers at the University of Geulph in Ontario, Canada have been working on a project called Enviropig since 1999. Their goal is to genetically alter a Yorkshire pig with specific DNA from mice and the E. coli bacteria, producing a pig that excretes about 50% fewer phosphates in its feces.

This aspect is great for the environment because pig feces are used by farmers as fertilizer. When it rains, the phosphates in pig manure find their way to underground water and pollute lakes, streams and ponds. Fewer phosphates in the water means less algae is produced that can starve fish of oxygen.

The researchers also want to introduce the pig for human consumption. That lofty goal is still a few years in the future, given the requirements from agencies like the FDA.

For years, there have been many opponents of genetically modified crops. GM crops are modified to be drought- and insect-resistant. They are also being engineered to increase yield, thereby making more food available.

Science is a great thing. But science and industry need to find a balance through ethics and regulations. Last year, there was a lot of contention about GM salmon. Now, it looks like pigs may find their way to your plate in the not-so-distant future.

Care2 blogger Sharon Seltzer raised a valid point that “…no one is considering that the GM salmon are real, living beings that will be affected by this process.” The same goes for pigs.

By altering a creature’s DNA, scientists are artificially expediting the Mendelian process. Currently, Enviropig ™ is at the ninth generation. Most likely, nature would never have mixed DNA from mice with pigs, and e. coli would never have found its way into the nucleus of a porcine ovum.

Then there is the quandary about animal welfare for farm animals. Wouldn’t genetically altering plants for a world food source be more humane than developing a super breed of pigs to feed the hungry? What’s next: GM cows, chickens and turkeys? Animals are already being exploited in factory farms.

With the earth’s human population about to break the 7 billion mark, addressing world hunger is a noble goal, and certainly finding ways to care for our environment by causing less pollution is just as important.

Why does it have to be at the personal expense of an innocent animal’s life, though? If humans are as brilliant and highly evolved as we think we are, there must be a way to solve world issues without forcing animals to bear the brunt of our experimental curiosity.

Flicker: Jon Bragg

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Claire M.

10:13PM PST on Mar 10, 2012

All of the things mentioned in the article as past tense are still big issues now. Also there is a big push to force labeling of GMO to consumers, who if they have a choice are going to refuse to buy it. This is not going to go away and we will show you that this is not the solution to the problem of forming farms in such a way that they over burden the environment and create inhumane conditions for animals.

send a green star

Laurita W.

9:15PM PST on Mar 10, 2012

"Wouldn’t genetically altering plants for a world food source be more humane than developing a super breed of pigs to feed the hungry? What’s next: GM cows... "

I think the problem with gm plants for world food source is that they can be non-reproductive, giving a few people who are insanely greedy, all the viable seeds for that plant. Then no one can grow it themselves, cause they can't get seeds! Pollen from gm corn (for instance) can blow onto a neighbor's plot and prevent the neighbor's corn from producing viable seeds. While it may be a wonderful thing in some areas, it would probably have the end effect of destroying autonomy even further.

I think there are gm cows trying to make milk like humans, for bottle babies without formulas.

Sonny H.

12:29AM PDT on Oct 10, 2011

GM pigs? No way.

Martha E.

6:22AM PST on Feb 18, 2011

I am a vegetarian, and I love intelligent pigs, as animals. The effects of all these GE products, be they vegetable or animal, are unknown, and you and your offspring will eat them at your own peril. The thing I am most concerned about, is governments (our own, included), putting these products into the marketplace without marking that they are GE (altered) products, so unsuspecting consumers will buy them, with no knowledge of what they're getting. TOTALLY UNETHICAL. Contact the Prez and your Congress, and tell them to rescind Monsanto's GE products: alfalfa, sugar beets, and corn, ... and whatever the hell, is NEXT on the agenda!!

Paul S.

1:30PM PST on Jan 31, 2011

GMOs are like introduced species - except they are foreign to our entire biosphere. The genes within them haven't gradually evolved to work together, they are being crammed into place, and who the hell knows how they will act.
Nobody does, that's the tragedy, because lots of "experts" assure us there is nothing to worry about (which often happens to distract us from all the things there are to worry about).

If an alien creature were to crash land on earth, would you eat that? Then why eat something about as foreign to our food chain?

Walter G.

7:32PM PST on Jan 15, 2011

In either case, the pigs themselves nor the swine trying to force them down our throats.

Debra S.

9:14AM PST on Jan 15, 2011

The love of money and the greedy people who know no boundaries when seeking ways to make it will one day meet their karma. How the hell can we call ourselves civil, either in whole or part, with this kind of cruelty? To greedy PEOPLE (they in fact run major corporations, etc): When you commit such atrocities please remember this, you have children or other loved ones, what about them and their future?

Shelly S.

6:08PM PST on Jan 14, 2011

Well Craig, I eat meat, so I can talk all I dam* well please. You couldn't pay me a million to put any part of 1 of those pigs in my mouth. It is NOT natural & it is NOT "promising", it's insanity. Factory farms are insanity. PEOPLE are insane. You can get the best meat (& veggies) you've ever had from a local farmer where it's been grown/fed organically, treated as the living creatures they are & slaughtered as humanely as possible w/o having to 1st witness hundreds or thousands of deaths prior to their own. Plus, you get to support a hardworking family who are just trying to do the right thing for themselves, their family, YOUR family & the animals for everyone's health & well-being. I will agree w/you on 1 issue, I do believe humans are inherently omnivore, if your raised vegan than maybe you haven't had meat, if not, at 1 point you had to make the conscious decision to stop eating meat, your body didn't decide for you. I have no issues w/vegans at all, good for you, I dont think I could give up meat, but I DO take big strides to never support factory farms, genetically modified anything, etc. My ONLY complaint about SOME vegans is how rabid they can be about it, it's kinda like religion in a way, just b/c I'm not "(insert whatever here)" doesn't mean I'm automatically a bad person. Although I do understand that the VAST majority of people who eat meat, do it from the grocery store & dont really care how the animal suffered, or work hard not to know

Patrice D.

9:38AM PST on Jan 14, 2011

This is disgusting! This is just another example of animal exploitation. Since the interviewer had to shower before being allowed to see the pigs, you can bet these intelligent, sensitive creatures have never, and will never, see sunlight or be allowed to root and socialize like a pig normally would. They are no different from the rats, rabbits, monkeys, and all other creatures confined and tortured for experimental purposes. Let's see, we "need" to feed them phosphorus to make them grow, but it's not digested well, and the uses of their waste causes pollution. So, let's change the pig to fit the food source as a means to lessen that pollution. Makes NO SENSE! If these pigs are "approved" and put into the factory farms, wonder what new antibiotics will have to be developed to feed them because their genetic manipulation makes them susceptible to some new and different disease? How many more animals will then have to be experimented on to develop the new antibiotic needed, how many others will be fed this new pig meat before it's deemed "acceptible" for human consumption? It's a vicious circle! Oh, and did you notice the confinement of the sow while the piglets nursed? Until humans realize that it's the HUMAN population and way of life that needs to be changed, nothing will improve on this earth. Soylent green will eventually happen...

JM D.

7:17PM PST on Jan 13, 2011

I am sorry but I disagree with most people here. I am for genetic alteration of our major food sources. If it can help sustain the world population, what's wrong with that? People slay animals all the time. Going vegan is great but you do have to accept that humans are omnivores. And as for the morality of it, who are you to know what God is thinking? People alter their bodies all the time (look at your favorite actors and actresses, and yet most people idolize them).

At least the scientists are doing something to help the world. Most people just complain and do nothing. If the world is overpopulated, have you made steps to educate them? Was it their fault that they are not blessed with education and born in an impoverished country unlike you? If you were born there instead of where you are now, do you think you'd think the way you are thinking right now? Put yourselves in other people's shoes before you judge. I know how it feels like to not eat for a day with children all around you dying of hunger. I know how it feels to eat in a very expensive restaurant with people who throws away food like it were some piece of trash. Needless to say, I've seen people in different walks of life. Its the job of the educated and wealthy people to help educate the less fortunate. Are you guys doing your share? If so, then great. If not, then you have no right to complain.