Iowa Pork Producers Association President Mike Paustian testified in front of the Senate Ag Committee last week about gene editing and how it should be regulated. He says gene editing, a new reproductive technique, needs to have reasonable and workable rules for pork producers.

He says pork producers prefer the regulation of gene editing be handled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture rather than the Food and Drug Administration.

Paustian says other countries that compete with the U.S. for various meat markets are already ahead of America when it comes to gene editing and how its regulated. He says that’s why Congress needs to make sure the USDA can move forward with gene editing rules as soon as possible.

Paustian says Brazil, Canada and Argentina have already made great strides with their own gene editing.