News Business News FDA clears CRISPR cattle for meat production Following a safety review, U.S. food regulators said short-haired cattle produced through gene editing can be raised for meat production. By Chuck Abbott Chuck Abbott Title: Contributing editor. Experience The slow-talking son of an Illinois farm family, I have covered U.S. food and agriculture policy in its many forms since 1988, from farm bills (six so far) and crop insurance reform to school lunch, ag research, biofuels and the Dietary Guidelines. Successful Farming's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 9, 2022 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: USDA Following a safety review, U.S. food regulators said short-haired cattle produced through gene editing can be raised for meat production. Meat from the cattle could be available for purchase in as little as two years, said the Food and Drug Administration. LISTEN: GMO vs. CRISPR The so-called PRLR-SLICK cattle join a short list of genetically engineered animals cleared by the FDA for human consumption, including Aqua Bounty's GMO salmon and a gen-edited pig whose meat lacks the sugar that causes some people to have allergic reactions to red meat. "We expect that our decision will encourage other developers to bring animal biotechnology products forward for the FDA's risk determination in this rapidly developing field, paving the way for animals containing low-risk IGAs (intentional genomic alterations) to more efficiently reach the marketplace," said Steven Solomon, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. READ MORE: Mimicking meat The gene-edited cattle were the first to receive an FDA "low-risk determination for enforcement discretion." The agency reviewed data about the gene-edited cattle before deciding the genetic alteration was similar to naturally occurring mutations seen in cattle in hot climates. "Further, the food from the cattle is the same as food from conventionally bred cattle that have the same slick-hair trait," said the FDA. Acceligen, a "precision breeding" company based in the Minneapolis suburbs, used the CRISPR gene-editing technique to produce cattle with the short-hair trait, known as a slick coat. Some scientists say cattle with an extremely short coat may be better able to tolerate hot weather. "Our solutions allow genetics companies to continue to breed high-merit animals while also addressing health and welfare traits," said Acceligen on its website. The company said it was interested in beef and dairy cattle, hogs and fish. In a statement, the FDA said farmers who produce and breed PRLR-SLICK cattle using conventional breeding techniques would not have to register with the agency. READ MORE: Gene editing is a new tool to combat virulent nematodes Trump administration officials proposed during their final days in office to put the USDA, rather than the FDA, in charge of regulating genetically engineered livestock. The hog industry was the leading proponent of the transfer of jurisdiction, saying the FDA moved too slowly. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit