Although genetically engineered (GE) products are used around the world, the issue becomes contentious when they are present in our food.

This one-page Ag quickCAST contains excerpted material from its companion CAST document (IP 50), Water and Land Issues Associated with Animal Agriculture: A U.S. Perspective.

This paper (IP 53) addresses the commonly heard argument that livestock compete with humans for food resources, thus providing support for the continued existence of livestock production.

This paper (IP 50) addresses specific water and land concerns related to animal agriculture. The authors consider issues of water use and water quality associated with the livestock sector and the related environmental and economic impacts.

Humans and animals have been consuming genetically engineered (GE) food from plants for decades, but the recent approval of GE salmon intended as human food has resulted in debate and some controversy. Many still have concerns about the environmental impact and food safety issues of such an approval.

The purpose of this CAST Issue Paper (IP 47) is to go beyond the generalizations and accusations often associated with the air quality topic. Experts from six universities examine a large amount of data and focus their information and conclusions around the key livestock areas: swine, poultry, dairy, and beef. Their critical analyses look at a wide scope of issues, from greenhouse gas emissions to the logistics of manure storage facilities.

Part 9, “ANIMAL AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY.” Animal biotechnology, which includes both genetic engineering and mammalian cloning, has expanded rapidly in recent decades. These technologies already have been applied in biomedical research and now are nearing application within the food system.

Native North American wild sheep species are very susceptible to pneumonia and particularly to pasteurellosis. Although the current understanding about pasteurellosis in wild and domestic sheep is incomplete, respiratory disease clearly is a serious problem in both.