Agriculture has embraced technological innovation with genetics research, a move that has made it easier to produce more food with fewer resources, Jon Entine, the Founder and Director of the Genetic Literacy Project, told the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue this week.
Entine and Perdue discussed innovation in agriculture during the September 2020 episode of “The Sonnyside of the Farm,” a monthly podcast about the issues facing America’s farmers, ranchers, producers and foresters.
“The Genetic Literacy Project really embraces the belief that we are entering the biotechnology era, which influences biomedicine, vaccine development and gene therapy of diseases. But I think the major focus over the last 10 years has been in agriculture because that is the center of innovation in the world today for genetic research,” Entine explained.
For example, gene sequencing technology has helped advance research into avian reovirus vaccinations, improving meat quality during bird development, lead to better welfare and husbandry for layers and better detect foodborne pathogens during processing.
“A lot of the innovation is purely in understanding the genetics of agriculture, which isn’t necessarily genetic modification. Frankly, we can influence the quality of all kinds of products using all kinds of innovation. Genetic modification is just one aspect of it. We are entering a new era of what we call gene editing,” said Entine.
Consumer acceptance is crucial
However, while there is general acceptance throughout agriculture and food production of new gene editing methods, consumer acceptance still has a ways to go.
“I think all of us want the same things – a safer, more productive food system. How you get there is really an issue of science,” Entine said. “I think there’s a lot of people out there that fear technology. The modern world is filled with pesticides, chemicals and other risks that we can’t control. In fact, we’ve never been safer in terms of our foods.”
Ultimately, advances in understanding – as well as the development of new approaches – benefit agriculture and food production, although there is still much to learn.
“If we care about sustainability and productivity, they will only come together when you embrace technology and you understand the role that a modern agricultural innovation has advanced for the world,” Entine added.
To learn more about the transition of innovative technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry, make plans to attend the annual Poultry Tech Summit, presented by WATT Global Media. The conference is a global collaboration networking event where biology, engineering and business converge.
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