PART 6, “ANIMAL AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY.”This paper describes the potential for transgenic livestock to advance the development of new medications for the treatment of human disease. Two techniques discussed in this paper are the predominant methods used to produce transgenic livestock, pronuclear microinjection and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

Vietnamese Translation – This paper provides a discussion of metabolic modifiers–a group of compounds that alter the physiology and metabolism of animals in specific ways to improve efficiency of meat and milk production and, in certain instances, to improve yield and composition of animal-derived products.

PART 5, “ANIMAL AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY.”As the global land area of biotechnology-derived crops continues to increase, these crops have become an increasingly important source of feedstuffs for farm animals, and it is important to review the safety of meat, milk, and eggs derived from animals fed these crops.

As an industrial chemical, acrylamide has been studied extensively for more than 40 years, resulting in a broad base of scientific knowledge covering various toxicological endpoints, metabolism, kinetics, mode of action, and health effects in animals. Very little scientific evidence is available in humans, particularly with respect to food.

Protecting the public from food safety risks, while maintaining a viable agricultural and food industry in an open society, is a daunting task. Risk analysis provides a systematic and transparent process for gathering information, estimating risks, weighing options, drawing conclusions, and communicating information to arrive at decisions that meet broad societal needs.

This paper provides background on some ways in which ethics is applied productively to the food and agriculture system. Ethics may be a component in food safety and security, international trade, land-use policies, and animal welfare

Animal diseases impact food supplies, trade and commerce, and human health worldwide. Some outbreaks have had severe consequences on the economies and social well-being of the population in affected countries.

Los brotes recientes de encefalopatía espongiforme bovina (enfermedad de la vaca loca), el virus del oeste del Nilo, la fiebre aftosa en porcinos y la fiebre aviar, encabezaron los titulares, inquietando no sólo por el significativo costo económico, sino también por la posibilidad de contagiar a los seres humanos.

¿Que es exactamente lo que hace que algo sea “correcto” o “incorrecto”?. Y en el campo del medio ambiente agrícola, ¿quién toma esas decisiones, cómo se generan tales determinaciones y cómo afectan a los investigadores, a las políticas y a los otros participantes?.

Composed of five stand-alone pieces, this issue paper highlights the current science, processes, and potentials for energy production through agriculture, and outlines future research needs.