Ontario Pork recently cut funding to Enviropig, a genetically modified pig developed by the University of Guelph. Whether or not the pig will be commercialized remains to be seen.
Enviropig was developed over ten years ago as a way to make pork production more environmentally-friendly. Scientists inserted DNA snippets from a mouse and bacteria into a Yorkshire pig genome, allowing the pigs to produce an enzyme called phytase. This enzyme helps the pigs digest plant phosphorus, and leads to a 30 to 65 per cent cut in phosphorus in the manure, potentially leading to less surface water pollution.
Over the years, Ontario Pork has contributed more than $1 million to the project. A statement on Ontario Pork’s website implied that the research had run its course.
Enviropig was developed over ten years ago as a way to make pork production more environmentally-friendly. Scientists inserted DNA snippets from a mouse and bacteria into a Yorkshire pig genome, allowing the pigs to produce an enzyme called phytase. This enzyme helps the pigs digest plant phosphorus, and leads to a 30 to 65 per cent cut in phosphorus in the manure, potentially leading to less surface water pollution.
Over the years, Ontario Pork has contributed more than $1 million to the project. A statement on Ontario Pork’s website implied that the research had run its course.