Genome editing and farmed animal breeding: social and ethical issues

About this project

• This short report outlines the main themes, findings and recommendations of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ report Genome editing and farmed animal breeding: social and ethical issues, which was published in December 2021. You can also download a PDF version of this short report.
• This inquiry was carried out by a multidisciplinary working group that included members with expertise in farming and food systems, animal biotechnology, biological research, veterinary epidemiology, law, philosophy, social science, sociology, animal welfare, and ethics.
• The working group invited contributions from a wide range of people, including through an open call for evidence, commissioned research, site visits, fact-finding meetings, and a series of individual and panel interviews.
  
• Alongside the evidence gathering, the working group commissioned a public dialogue in which citizens were invited to explore the values and considerations that informed their response to prospective applications of genome editing in farmed animals.

Contents

• Overview and key findings
• Introduction
• Challenges facing our food and farming systems
• New breeding technologies
• Consumers and citizens
• Governance
• Guiding principles
• Recommendations