Would you buy genetically modified salmon?

AquaBounty, an aquaculture company based in Massachusetts, USA, has implanted a salmon roe gene called Chinook into Atlantic salmon (a common feeding salmon) roe

Comparison of two types of salmon

This kind of genetically modified salmon has a lower cost of raising, and it takes only half of the time required to develop into an adult

In 2010, AquaBounty said that they had received feedback from the FDA Veterinary Center.

In fact, AquaBounty's technology around genetically modified salmon was formed in the 1990s, and then it contacted the US regulatory authorities and began to "upstream":

In 1989, Canadian researchers used genetic engineering methods to transfer the growth hormone gene of Chinook salmon and a gene regulatory element of Zoarces americanus into wild Atlantic salmon.

In 1995, AquaBounty submitted an "Investigational New Animal Drug" application to the US FDA

In 2001, AquaBounty submitted its first regulatory research report to the FDA

In 2009, the FDA issued guidance on the evaluation and management of genetically modified animals (veterinary drugs), and AquaBounty completed the submission documents required by the FDA

In 2010, the FDA stated that genetically modified salmon is safe to eat

In 2012, the FDA completed the draft environmental assessment of genetically modified salmon in May, but it was not officially announced until December

In 2013, the public comment period for the environmental assessment draft was extended by 2 months and ended on April 26

After being imprisoned in regulatory hell for nearly 25 years, it was not released by the US FDA until November 19, 2015.

So far, this fast-growing salmon became the first genetically modified animal approved for human consumption in the United States

But this move was quickly opposed by a large number of environmental and food safety groups

Activists from various groups in the United States and Canada asked regulators to reconsider the decision

Now, AquaBounty's salmon entering the Canadian market is bound to arouse a new round of opposition

On August 4, Canada announced that it had sold approximately 4.

Dr.
James West, a geneticist at Vanderbilt University and one of the founders of AgGenetics (a start-up engineered dairy and beef cattle production company), said: “There are some things that require someone to take the first step bravely
.
Fortunately, it’s not us.
The company
.
If AquaBounty fails, it will directly kill an entire generation of engineered animal husbandry
.
"

AquaBounty’s current fish farm is located in Panama.
The company plans to expand an industrial base in Prince Edward Island, Canada to increase production.
The local government approved the construction project in June this year.
In the same month, AquaBounty also acquired a fish farm in Indiana.
The fish farm is waiting for the US regulatory agency to agree to open production
.

No matter how many challenges and doubts GM faces, Zhu Zhen, a researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, believes that GM technology is still the mainstream technology for breeding
.
Although industrialization is lagging behind, Chinese experts have reached a consensus: China has gone from "following" to "paralleling" and even "leading" in GMO research and development.
In the biotechnology competition centered on GMO, China must be active.
Participate in and lead its development
.

The first arduous experience of transgenic salmon on the market has paved a viable path for the research, development, production, and launch of genetically modified products around the world.
Regardless of success or failure, the experience of AquaBounty has a high level of reference for the production, research and development of genetically modified animal food in China.

.

Further reading: The first genetically modified fish approved by the United States may be served on the table within two years

Original title:
First genetically engineered salmon sold in Canada
Salmon is first transgenic animal to win US approval for food
Transgenic salmon nears approval

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