The Social Implications of The Social Implications of Animal Biopharming in Animal Biopharming in

New ZealandNew Zealand

IntroductionIntroduction

• DefinitionDefinition

• Why Animal Biopharming?Why Animal Biopharming?

• What are social implications?What are social implications?

• MethdologyMethdology

• ScopingScoping

• InterviewsInterviews

• FindingsFindings

• Further investigation Further investigation

DefinitionDefinition

• Animal biopharming is the genetic modification of animals to produce pharmaceuticals and health products (or other substances).

Why animal biopharming?Why animal biopharming?

• Strong farming sectorStrong farming sector

• Diversify Diversify

• Freedom from disease (BSE, scrapie)Freedom from disease (BSE, scrapie)

• Foreign investment opportunities Foreign investment opportunities

• Medical health benefitsMedical health benefits

• Opportunities for avoiding patent Opportunities for avoiding patent expiration expiration

• ““to that end, the use of transgenic animals to that end, the use of transgenic animals to generate large amounts of human to generate large amounts of human protein-based drugs is a natural fit for New protein-based drugs is a natural fit for New Zealand” (Beckman and Goldberg, 2003). Zealand” (Beckman and Goldberg, 2003).

• “ “ My feeling is that it will be a New My feeling is that it will be a New Zealand animal that does it first. I would Zealand animal that does it first. I would be very, I would be quite surprised if it’s a be very, I would be quite surprised if it’s a non New Zealand animal that gets the first non New Zealand animal that gets the first product on the market, I think , the way product on the market, I think , the way things are going…”things are going…” MoRST MoRST

• Given this what are the implications Given this what are the implications and possible risks for New Zealand? and possible risks for New Zealand?

What are social What are social implications?implications?• Two types of social implication Two types of social implication

discovered through ‘local knowledge’discovered through ‘local knowledge’

1.1. The implication of a new technology The implication of a new technology on social practiceson social practices

2.2. The implication of social practices on The implication of social practices on how a technology is used, and how a technology is used, and therefore, the risk of that technology. therefore, the risk of that technology.

• In order to understand the risk of a In order to understand the risk of a new technology, it is vital to assess new technology, it is vital to assess this technology within its social this technology within its social context. context.

• Wynne (1991,1992,1996) case study Wynne (1991,1992,1996) case study of Cubrian Sheep farmers. of Cubrian Sheep farmers.

Other examples:Other examples:

BSE crisis, Illinois laboratory pigs BSE crisis, Illinois laboratory pigs entering food chain, Irwins (1995) entering food chain, Irwins (1995) study of pesticide use with British study of pesticide use with British agricultural farmers. agricultural farmers.

Assessment of risk should considerAssessment of risk should consider

1.1. How rules are followedHow rules are followed

2. How specific environments shapes 2. How specific environments shapes practices and riskpractices and risk

3. How social arrangements and 3. How social arrangements and relationships shape practicesrelationships shape practices

How?How?

Find people with knowledge of these Find people with knowledge of these things. (Local knowledge) things. (Local knowledge)

MethodologyMethodology

ScopingScoping

Interview Local knowledgeInterview Local knowledge

Where is it headed? Where is it headed? ScenariosScenarios

• DairyDairy

• AgResearch deal with Pharma. AgResearch deal with Pharma. Producing human lactoferrin in cows Producing human lactoferrin in cows milk. milk.

Current assessment has been Current assessment has been conducted within the relative conducted within the relative controlled environment of field trials. controlled environment of field trials.

Possible RisksPossible Risks

Vertical and Horizontal SpreadVertical and Horizontal Spread

Cow or milk in Food SupplyCow or milk in Food Supply

Containment (cows from entering, Containment (cows from entering, cows from escaping)cows from escaping)

Management StructuresManagement Structures

• Owned by FarmerOwned by Farmer

• Owned by pharmaceutical companyOwned by pharmaceutical company

• Subsidised operationSubsidised operation

• Fewer cows neededFewer cows needed

Interviewing Dairy FarmersInterviewing Dairy Farmers

• how would they run this operation?how would they run this operation?

• Are controls practical?Are controls practical?

• What risks can they identify? What risks can they identify?

• Who else might be affected by this? Who else might be affected by this?

• What are the implications of possible What are the implications of possible management structures? management structures?

Areas of risk identifiedAreas of risk identified

Rule followingRule following

Ability to containAbility to contain

Economic FactorsEconomic Factors

Rule following and human Rule following and human errorerror• The more people working the bigger chance The more people working the bigger chance

for error.for error.

• Who is employed is importantWho is employed is important

• rule following is tied to economicsrule following is tied to economics

• Neighbours maybe be less likely to follow Neighbours maybe be less likely to follow rulesrules

• Belief in the risk maybe importantBelief in the risk maybe important

• Farmers may choose unique ways of Farmers may choose unique ways of following rulesfollowing rules

Rule Following and Rule Following and EmploymentEmployment

• “… “… I mean with our situation, …..we’ve I mean with our situation, …..we’ve changed our labour situation down changed our labour situation down there quite dramatically because of there quite dramatically because of just those sort of problems. …..just too just those sort of problems. …..just too slap dash you know not, you know slap dash you know not, you know Saturday mornings being you know Saturday mornings being you know being boozed and asleep and that sort being boozed and asleep and that sort of stuff.” of stuff.”

Who owns the cow?Who owns the cow?

• Farm Managers?Farm Managers?• ““well if he was only there for a year, well if he was only there for a year,

well he could take something with him well he could take something with him to the next farm.to the next farm. An owner you are in it An owner you are in it boots and all, and you are going to boots and all, and you are going to make sure that it works. Whereas a make sure that it works. Whereas a manager its like “I’m only here for a manager its like “I’m only here for a year, what do I care?” It can be an year, what do I care?” It can be an attitude thing.” attitude thing.”

Ability to containAbility to contain

• Human errorHuman error

• People entering the farmPeople entering the farm

• FloodingFlooding

• Grazing patterns Grazing patterns

EconomicEconomic

• Turnover of farms Turnover of farms ““farms that are bought and sold and farms that are bought and sold and

the tenure of the farms changes with the tenure of the farms changes with sharemilkers, it is quite dramatic…” sharemilkers, it is quite dramatic…”

• Flexibility of production is a risk Flexibility of production is a risk • Poor economic position can lead to Poor economic position can lead to

“corner cutting” “corner cutting” • Need for insuranceNeed for insurance

EnvironmentEnvironment

• Soil Soil

• Farm positionFarm position

• Level of WatertableLevel of Watertable

Current Assessment of RisksCurrent Assessment of Risks

• Application specific. Application specific.

• No methodology for applicants to No methodology for applicants to assess risk. assess risk.

• No strict methodology to assess No strict methodology to assess economic and social problems. economic and social problems.

• Risk assessment should take into Risk assessment should take into account the types of knowledge account the types of knowledge individuals hold, and use it for a individuals hold, and use it for a better understanding of risk. better understanding of risk.

Further ResearchFurther Research

• Talk to milk transportersTalk to milk transporters

• Talk to meat worksTalk to meat works

• Talk to organic farmersTalk to organic farmers