Gene Editing for Improved Animal Welfare and Production Traits in Cattle: Will This Technology Be Embraced or Rejected by the Public?

Abstract

Integrating technology into agricultural systems has gained considerable traction, particularly over the last half century. Agricultural systems that incorporate the public’s concerns regarding farm animal welfare are more likely to be socially accepted in the long term, a key but often forgotten component of sustainability. Gene editing is a tool that has received considerable attention in the last five years, given its potential capacity to improve farm animal health, welfare, and production efficiency. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of Brazilian citizens regarding the applications of gene editing in cattle that generate offspring without horns; are more resistant to heat; and have increased muscle tissue. Using a mixed-methods approach, we surveyed participants via face-to-face, using in-depth interviews (Study 1) and an online questionnaire containing closed-ended questions (Study 2). Overall, the acceptability of gene editing was low and in cases where support was given it was highly dependent on the type and purpose of the application proposed. Using gene editing to improve muscle tissue growth was viewed as less acceptable compared to using gene editing to reduce heat stress or to produce hornless cattle. Support declined when the application was perceived to harm animal welfare, to be profit motivated or to reinforce the status quo of intensive livestock systems. The acceptability of gene editing was reduced when perceptions of risks and benefits were viewed as unevenly or unfairly distributed among consumers, corporations, different types of farmers, and the animals. Interviewees did not consider gene editing a “natural” process, citing dissenting reasons such as the high degree of human interference and the acceleration of natural processes. Our findings raised several issues that may need to be addressed for gene editing to comply with the social pillar of sustainable agriculture.

Developing ‘Smart’ Dairy Farming Responsive to Farmers and Consumer-Citizens: A Review

“…Such groups are often presented in the literature as opposing or even in conflict. Moreover as they are likely to have different levels of knowledge and experience, different interests and draw on different value sets, it is likely that they assess individual farm practices in very different ways [32], thus contributing a diversity of perspectives. Finally consumers and citizens often tend to be excluded or overlooked in innovation activities relating to dairy technologies [20,33].…”

“…Consumption patterns-what consumers choose to eat and influences on such choices-are critical factors shaping how food and land use systems evolve. Moreover, public opinion can become a major driver for industry changes [34]; even if attitudes do not influence purchasing behavior (consumer perspective), moral discomfort can be expressed as support for changes in legislation (citizen perspective) [32]. Given the historical fall-out of failing to gauge public risk perception on agricultural issues in the past (e.g., BSE, GMOs) [4], there is a recognition that socio-cultural perspectives, including consumer-citizen perspectives, are inadequately reflected in discussions on more recent on-farm technologies [22,33,35].…”

“…Drawing on insights from research conducted with consumers in Brazil, ref. [32] point out that sexed semen is a high cost technology, making it less accessible to small-scale farmers, availbale online: https://www.foodandlandusecoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FOLU-GrowingBetter-GlobalReport.pdf (accessed on 26 January 2022). An interesting aspect of reproduction technologies is that use of one of these technologies can enhance adoption of another technology.…”

“…Gene editing is a further development in breeding that facilities faster genetic advancement than the more traditional genetic selection techniques. Gene editing is proposed as a means to improve animal health, animal welfare, and production efficiency and to create the potential to produce milk with reduced allergenic potential, through the controlled manipulation of DNA in a single generation [32,65]. In research on Brazilian consumers, it was identified that the acceptability of gene editing in cattle was increased by perceptions of benefits to animals, and influenced by the perceived distribution of benefits [32].…”

Livestock Trails as Keystone Structural Connectors for Pastureland Analysis Based on Remote Sensing and Structural Connectivity Assessment

“…In addition, this correct planning of pastures can be used in the management of livestock in a semi-extensive regime, reducing the current high energy costs derived from the development of this type of activity which seriously compromises its future. Due to this fact, there has been a proliferation of studies and research [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] on agro-ecological models for livestock management that sustainably promote and encourage rural development and other social purposes, biodiversity, environmental and landscape protection, traditions and culture. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to carry out adequate management of those pasturelands that can be used for the dispersal of species that depend on this type of habitat, ensuring ecosystem sustainability [20].…”