How It Works

The EnviroPig is unique from other Yorkshire pigs, scientists genetically modified the animal with genes from mice and the bacteria e coli to make it so the pigs could digest certain plant phosphorous, that would otherwise be indigestible. By giving it Phytase produced in the salivary glands and secreted in the saliva the pigs can now break down the feed better than ever before. The pig helps the environment because the phosphorous found in its manure can contaminate water sources and the environment around it.

Should We Continue The Production of GMOs?

The production of GMOs is a controversial topic. Some believe that it is inhumane and unethical to experiment and mass produce such organisms. GMOs may potentially be harmful since there could be long term effects that haven't been discovered.

But, I believe that we should continue the production and research of organisms that can be genetically modified to provide some kind of benefit for humanity and the environment we live in. However we should make sure production is monitored and tested to ensure the cumulative effects are safe. If we are able to discover and create an organism that not only benefits humans, but the environment as well, we can use it for the betterment of the earth as a whole. Scientists are always looking for cost-effective alternatives when it comes to GMOs, however we shouldn't sacrifice health or well being to create something that is cheaper. This might prove more costly for consumers in the long run.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits (Pros)

• Cost efficient (Gives same features that supplements provide, at a lower price.)
• Environmentally friendly (The pigs are able to digest more phosphorous which leads to the contamination of water bodies and pollution in general.)
• As of 2009  the risk assessment conducted by Environment Canada and Health Canada concluded that the EnviroPig does not cause harm to the Canadian environment or human health.
• Some results showed that multiple enviropigs were healthier than conventionally raised pigs.
• All test and experiments were inline and followed the guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care as well as the Canadian Code of Practice.

 Risks (Cons)

• There maybe long term risks that haven't been discovered yet
• Majority of the public is uncomfortable with consuming GMO
• The pigs will cost more than conventional Yorkshire pigs
• Funding has been denied by Ontario pork farmers who don't want the public to associate their pigs and farms with GMOs.

CNN Video on Enviropigs

Economy, Ethics, and Society... Oh My

Since the Enviropig has been introduced it has gained a lot of popularity and questions. These are usually centered around to effect it has on the economy, society and if it is ethical.


Economic Effect

The Enviropig is surprisingly cost efficient for farmers around the world. The current feed farmers use are expensive. If they want to increase the amount of phosphorous their pigs digest, they would need to add supplements. Though supplements work, the Enviropig doesn't need any sort of supplements to allow it to digest more phosphorous. Their saliva contains a gene that breaks down their food better.

Is it Ethical?

The team at the University of Guelph who developed and created these pigs has said that their pigs are not being harmed and all experiments or tests performed are all inline with the guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care. They also say that the pigs were raised in accordance with the Canadian Code of Practice for hog production. In some cases the pigs produced have had no health problems and perform and act the same as any other pigs. There are some pigs who perform better than pigs raised the normal way which shows that the way they are raising pigs don't affect their health negatively.

How Has Society Reacted?

Society hasn't reacted very well to the idea of having genetically modified bacon on their plate in the morning because they are unsure about potential long term risks. Though the enviropig currently has no health risks in the short term, there are many skeptics that believe that there will be problems in the future. This unfortunately caused many Ontario pork farmers to pull their financial support for the research project at the University of Guelph. The main reasons for this would be the public, feeling that the pigs they were eating were unsafe "transgenic" animals. This for swine breeders and can have a negative effect for their business. They are still debating if the animals should be produced globally and if they are ready for consumption.

Environmental Benefits

Conventional pigs produce manure that has large amounts of phosphorus. This phosphorous can cause large amounts of pollution and contamination if it reaches a water source. It affects the environment as a whole and is a problem for fish species. By reducing the amount of phosphorous, you decrease the chance of environmental destruction. The team at the University of Guelph created the GMO to counter the effects of the contamination. They introduced it to multiple countries such as China, to decrease the environmental footprint in the agriculture industry.

The Enviropig

The Enviropig is a genetically modified animal developed at the University of Guelph. They are Yorkshire pigs that have been modified to produce the enzyme, phytase. This essentially help the pigs digest plant phosphorus better.

The Enviropig was genetically modified to improve environmental conditions. Phosphorus that was undigested in manure is spread on land;in the surrounding area. This phosphorus can seep in to the ground and leach in to water sources contaminating it and even reaching other rivers. This is the leading cause of fish kills resulting from anoxic conditions, and reduced water quality since it contributes to algal growth. By reducing the amount of undigested phosphorous, it will lessen the impact and chance of this happening. They are raised the same way as other pigs except they have less effect on the environment.