SCNT CloningSCNT CloningAnimal BreederAnimal Breeder’’s Perspectivess Perspectives

AnneAnne--Marie Neeteson Marie Neeteson Albert Albert PaszekPaszekAndrea RosatiAndrea RosatiChris WarkupChris Warkup

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Farm Animal Breeding isFarm Animal Breeding is……

a.a. SelectSelect best parents for next generationbest parents for next generation

–– from from genetic diversity of populationsgenetic diversity of populations

–– production environment, market, economic production environment, market, economic conditionsconditions……

–– diversity and distinctivenessdiversity and distinctiveness of European of European animal production and the animal production and the European European

landscape and culturelandscape and culture

b. Dissemination of progress => b. Dissemination of progress => reproductionreproduction

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Farm Animal BreedingFarm Animal Breeding

•• Cooperatives and private organisationsCooperatives and private organisations–– depending on biology of speciesdepending on biology of species

•• Majority in Europe Majority in Europe –– ~~50% up to > 80%50% up to > 80%

–– providing world with breeding stockproviding world with breeding stock

–– based in based in Europe /European ownedEurope /European owned

•• Takes place Takes place –– where the where the high level researchhigh level research isis

–– in ain a global competitiveglobal competitive marketmarket

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Animal SCNT Cloning is aAnimal SCNT Cloning is a

•• Technology in developmentTechnology in development

–– Aware of society concerns:Aware of society concerns:

•• Animal Health and WelfareAnimal Health and Welfare

•• Genetic DiversityGenetic Diversity

•• EthicsEthics–– ChoiceChoice

–– Slippery Slope EffectSlippery Slope Effect

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Animal SCNT CloningAnimal SCNT Cloning

•• No practical benefit at the momentNo practical benefit at the moment–– not currently applied not currently applied

–– in regular breeding in regular breeding programmesprogrammes of production animals in EUof production animals in EU

•• Important options for the futureImportant options for the future–– animal breeding and production take place in a global animal breeding and production take place in a global environment with an increasing role of biotechnologies environment with an increasing role of biotechnologies

–– EU cannot afford to become detached from the further EU cannot afford to become detached from the further development development

–– when animal cloning would be forbidden when animal cloning would be forbidden as technology support as technology support tool for animal breeding and productiontool for animal breeding and production nownow, this will have an , this will have an important important signal function and serious consequencessignal function and serious consequences

•• Research and innovationResearch and innovation

•• Competitiveness animal breeding and production EuropeCompetitiveness animal breeding and production Europe

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Research and InnovationResearch and Innovation

•• Animal cloning and medical applicationsAnimal cloning and medical applications•• Novel animal reproduction technologies Novel animal reproduction technologies •• Breeding in generalBreeding in general

R&D will only continue if the options for the future are openR&D will only continue if the options for the future are open–– No further developmentNo further development–– Also for judging the technology visAlso for judging the technology vis--àà--vis developments outside Europevis developments outside Europe

Not to lose the option to utilize cloning in future if Not to lose the option to utilize cloning in future if that became appropriatethat became appropriate

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Competitiveness Competitiveness European farm animal breeding businessEuropean farm animal breeding business

•• Depending on species and applications, cloning related Depending on species and applications, cloning related developments will take place developments will take place outside Europeoutside Europe leading to a severe leading to a severe competitive disadvantagecompetitive disadvantage of breeding of breeding organisationsorganisations, with spin , with spin off consequences for off consequences for breeding for quality and diversity breeding for quality and diversity productionproduction

•• This will happen at the This will happen at the medium termmedium term (as from 7(as from 7--10 years from 10 years from now). now).

•• In practice this would mean that most of the In practice this would mean that most of the breeding breeding developmentsdevelopments will take place will take place outside Europeoutside Europe (and also the (and also the knowledge centerknowledge center developments)developments)–– It will concentrate on the uptake of overseas knowledge, and furIt will concentrate on the uptake of overseas knowledge, and further ther developments in quality schemes (an area related to breeding)developments in quality schemes (an area related to breeding)

–– We foresee problems in diversity developments, and higher cost oWe foresee problems in diversity developments, and higher cost of f animal food productionanimal food production

–– Now breeding is mostly in European hands Now breeding is mostly in European hands –– the size of the companies the size of the companies makes it easy for investors outside Europe to outcompete themmakes it easy for investors outside Europe to outcompete them

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Potential ApplicationsPotential Applications

•• ResearchResearch –– improving knowledge of biologyimproving knowledge of biology•• InsuranceInsurance –– safeguarding valuable animalssafeguarding valuable animals•• ConservationConservation –– increasing animal numbersincreasing animal numbers•• BiosecurityBiosecurity –– international trade in geneticsinternational trade in genetics•• DisseminationDissemination of improved geneticsof improved genetics•• Niche roles in Niche roles in breed improvementbreed improvement

As cloning technology has significantly improved during As cloning technology has significantly improved during recent years, the global use of SCNT cloning for farm recent years, the global use of SCNT cloning for farm animals may appear earlier than we can foresee now animals may appear earlier than we can foresee now

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Animal SCNT Cloning - issues

•• Animal Health and WelfareAnimal Health and Welfare

–– to be improved by research and developmentto be improved by research and development

•• Biodiversity Biodiversity

–– technology should be part of balanced breeding technology should be part of balanced breeding schemesschemes

•• Public opinion Public opinion

–– important, and therefore should allow public the important, and therefore should allow public the choicechoice

–– CHOICE works both ways: to use or not use a CHOICE works both ways: to use or not use a technology (not restrict choicetechnology (not restrict choice))

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Traceability of farm animalsTraceability of farm animals

•• Animals are being followed and registered thoroughlyAnimals are being followed and registered thoroughly–– Their movements Their movements –– Their family picture (pedigree) Their family picture (pedigree) –– Their healthTheir health

•• Code of Good Practice CodeCode of Good Practice Code--EFABAREFABAR–– Traceability with individual breeding Traceability with individual breeding organisationorganisation–– For transparencyFor transparency–– Developed as EC project, Developed as EC project, –– Society involved in various steps of developmentSociety involved in various steps of development–– In terms of sustainability, balanceIn terms of sustainability, balance–– Use/not use of technologyUse/not use of technology

•• Registration database of clonesRegistration database of clones–– Distinguish clones from progeny (Distinguish clones from progeny (progeny of clones are not clonesprogeny of clones are not clones))–– E.g. there is no evidence that these animals suffer any welfare E.g. there is no evidence that these animals suffer any welfare or health or health effects from the cloning of previous generations effects from the cloning of previous generations

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Conclusions (1)Conclusions (1)

•• No clear safety issues for consumersNo clear safety issues for consumers

•• One end of a continuum One end of a continuum -- no obvious reason to draw the no obvious reason to draw the line at SCNTline at SCNT

•• Still costly, but may be cost effective in dissemination, Still costly, but may be cost effective in dissemination, conservation, improving conservation, improving biosecuritybiosecurity and as an insurance and as an insurance policy for elite animalspolicy for elite animals

•• Unlikely to have wide use in mainstream breedingUnlikely to have wide use in mainstream breeding

•• But may make a useful contribution to improving But may make a useful contribution to improving economic and environmental sustainability (and even economic and environmental sustainability (and even food quality/safety and animal welfare) food quality/safety and animal welfare)

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Conclusions (2)Conclusions (2)

•• Most new technologies have problems that can Most new technologies have problems that can be overcomebe overcome

•• A need for more research on risks and benefitsA need for more research on risks and benefits

•• Important to distinguish between SCNT clones Important to distinguish between SCNT clones and their progenyand their progeny

•• How can we best maintain choice?How can we best maintain choice?

–– choice for industry to use and choice for choice for industry to use and choice for consumers with objections to choose againstconsumers with objections to choose against

EPB

Association of the

European Poultry

Breeders

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

•• European Forum of Farm Animal BreedersEuropean Forum of Farm Animal Breederswww.effab.infowww.effab.info

•• European Association for Animal ProductionEuropean Association for Animal Productionwww.eaap.orgwww.eaap.org

•• European Poultry BreedersEuropean Poultry Breeders

info@epbinfo@epb--secretariat.eusecretariat.eu

•• Genesis Faraday Genesis Faraday www.genesiswww.genesis--faraday.orgfaraday.org

•• Sustainable Farm Animal Breeding and Reproduction Sustainable Farm Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology PlatformTechnology Platform

www.fabretp.orgwww.fabretp.org