This week has been a week of change for our country in many ways. The inauguration of a new President and the first time a woman has been sworn in as Vice-President of the United States. It doesn’t matter political affiliation, breaking the glass ceiling is always good news. Behind the scenes there was also some other good news for us in agriculture: This week USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows USDA regulatory oversight of gene-edited livestock intended for food. I am excited about this MOU as it finally allows a path forward for our producers to become aligned with our global competitors. With the signing of this MOU, we can finally put innovation as a priority and make up some market share across the globe.

Last fall I was asked to give a food safety talk during a workshop series on regulatory approaches for agricultural applications of animal biotechnology. Speakers were from many countries across the globe as many of them have previous experience with animal biotechnology, more than the U.S. It included key players – CODEX, FDA, USDA, and many agricultural ministers from around the world. It was a fabulous workshop and a great learning experience for me.

I do have a confession: My industry perspective talk was relatively easy as processing food safety doesn’t change, whether it’s genetically engineered animals or conventional animals. Process control, sampling, biomapping, multi-hurdle and multi-technology approaches to food safety through interventions and HACCP principles, all remain the same.

While I was preparing my talk, I spent a lot of time exploring opinions of genetically engineered and modified animals. I believe in science and I have a basic understanding of why this option is critical to disease prevention, healthy animals and ensuring our food supply. However, my explorations of those not involved in scientific agriculture took me by surprise. By signing this MOU, we are not creating four-winged chickens. By signing this MOU, we are not allowing unsafe adulterated product to enter our food supply. By signing this MOU, we are placing shared governance of a critical agricultural topic into the hands of the agencies responsible for the safest food supply in the world.

After the several-week-long workshop, I really discovered how far behind we are compared to the remainder of the world in innovation and consumer understanding when it comes to bioengineered livestock.

Chickens and turkeys are not considered livestock according to our regulatory definitions. Maybe with this MOU, innovation and research will be expanded beyond pigs and we can explore some opportunities in poultry. I know most people are thinking "chicken wings" and how awesome it would be to produce a chicken with four wings — but that’s not the point of this research and innovation. The focus is animal health and welfare, disease resistance, further reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint, and ensuring our food supply in times of crisis.

Prior to COVID, we may not have taken what happens with a disease outbreak in agriculture seriously. But now that we have personally experienced shortages of supplies, certain foods (not meat and poultry) and toilet paper, maybe people will be more understanding in listening to the “why” regarding this technology of bioengineering.

My time at USDA, although a short 18 months, really helped me to realize how much the agencies work together and share coordination of the regulatory process. I am excited about this pathway forward and I am hoping we can talk about this technology in poultry soon. Consumers may think it would be nice to have four-winged chickens, but we really could use some help with disease resistance such as avian influenza and others. As always, share this good news with friends and neighbors, as impactful consumer education happens over a morning coffee or a glass of wine with friends moreso than reading a blurb on Twitter or Snapchat.

It's not about the chicken wings

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