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Summary

The goal of the GM Enviropig™ is to provide intensive livestock operations (factory farms) with a product to reduce the amount of polluting phosphorous they produce. Phosphorous from animal manure is a nutrient for plants that becomes a pollutant if there is too much of it for crops to absorb, and the excess runs off into streams and lakes. Researchers claim that the feces from Enviropig™ could contain 30 to 70.7% less phosphorus.

Enviropig™ is designed to reduce the amount of phosphorous coming from the pigs themselves, so that factory farms do not have to pay for other measures such as reducing the number of pigs they raise in one place, changing feed ingredients, trucking liquid manure longer distances, dry composting manure, or expanding the area of land for spreading manure.

Enviropig™ is genetically engineered to produce the enzyme phytase in its salivary glands to enable more effective digestion of phytate, the from of phosphorus found in pig feed ingredients like corn and soybeans. Scientists inserted a transgene sequence that includes an E-coli bacteria phytase gene and a mouse promoter gene sequence.

In February 2010, Environment Canada granted approval to the University of Guelph for the reproduction and exportation of Enviropig™. Health Canada could approve Enviropig™ for human consumption at any time.

Background Information

Click here to read full background on Enviropig™

• What is Enviropig™?
• Is Enviropig™ An Environmental Solution?
• Who "Created" and Owns Enviropig™?
• Is Enviropig™ Safe?
• When will Enviropig™ be on the market?
• Do Farmers Need Enviropig™?

Coming soon:

• pdf background paper
• action flyer
• articles and editorials

More Information

New! June 2010: "Enviropig™: A piggy you hope to never meet at the market", Common Ground magazine, by Lucy Sharratt, June 2010.

The National Farmers Union of Ontario passed a resolution against Enviropig at their March 20, 2010 AGM: "THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NFU oppose the commercial production of the Enviropig in Canada and request that Ontario Pork and OMAFRA withdraw support for the Enviro Pig and U of Guelph shut down the project immediately. Further, that NFU-O request that these financial resources be redirected to research that fits the real needs of hog producers in Ontario and Canada." Read the full resolution here.

Beyond Factory Farming

University of Guelph, Enviropig homepage

The campaign to Stop Enviropig™ is coordinated by the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) in partnership with Beyond Factory Farming (BFF). Become part of the campaign: sign up here to contribute your ideas and subscribe for updates on Enviropig™.