August 24, 2009

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has released a new Issue Paper, Animal Productivity and Genetic Diversity: Cloned and Transgenic Animals, to provide consumers with scientific information so that they may be better able to weigh the risks of the new technologies in relation to the potential benefits they provide.

Cloning and transgenesis, two new breeding technologies, could improve animal health and well-being, decrease negative impacts on the environment, and enhance safety and nutritional quality of food, thereby improving food security in nations around the world, supporters of biotechnology said.

But some consumers and consumer groups are concerned that inclusion of such technologies in food production systems may not be in the consumer's best interest.

"Cloned and Transgenic Animals" reviews the complexities surrounding the issue of transgenic and cloned animals and presents the science behind the issues.

Cloning and transgenesis had their strengths and limitations that some of the most compelling projects enhanced animal well-being and decreased the environmental impact of animal production, said Task Force Chair Robert Wall, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Beltsville, Maryland.

The eight-member international Task Force addresses topics including the cloning of farm animals for breeding and direct food consumption; disease resistance in transgenic animals; and the use of transgenics for improved food safety and quality, decreased environmental impact, and increased production efficiency.

CAST was established in 1972 as a result of a 1970 meeting sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council. CAST is a nonprofit organisation composed of 33 scientific societies while the Board of Directors has members representing over 170,000 member scientists.