Officials with the National Pork Producer Council want the USDA to take over regulatory oversight of gene editing for livestock because development is stalled at the Food and Drug Administration. NPPC’s Director of Science and Technology Dr. Dan Kovitch says it makes more sense for the Ag Department to oversee gene editing verses FDA.

He says gene editing is an important technology for producers to have access to and it would also lead to less antibiotic use.

Kovitch says emerging applications of gene editing include being able to raise pigs resistant to PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome).

Kovitch says the U.S. can’t afford to let other countries have an advantage with gene editing.