Precommercialization of enviropig(TM) biotechnology Pt2

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The swine industry in Canada is a multibillion-dollar business with approximately 14 million pigs on farms. The three major nutrients for their growth and development are carbohydrate, protein and phosphorus, and these are provided by cereal grains and plant protein supplements. Phosphorus, the third major nutrient, is present in these feed components largely in the form of phytic acid, which is not digestible by the pig. To solve the inability to digest phytate we have genetically enhanced a line of Yorkshire pigs trademarked "EnviropigTM" to secrete the enzyme phytase in the salivary that enables digestion of phytate in the stomach with the release of phosphate which is readily absorbed in the small intestine. Since supplementation of the diet with available phosphate is unnecessary, there is greater utilization of the phosphorus in the cereals with a corresponding reduction of phosphorus in the manure by as much as 60%. Therefore, these pigs cost marginally less to feed, and they produce manure that has less pollution potential. We have done extensive testing which documents that the pigs grow normally, are identical to conventional pigs in all other ways other than salivary phytase production, and that the non-allergenic phytase protein is present only in the salivary glands and some secretory glands of the upper respiratory tract. The objective of this research is to complete the food safety assessment and stability testing of phenotypic expression, and to assess the effect of manure from the Enviropigs as a fertilizer for plant growth. The final objective is to develop a website containing food and environmental safety information, and efficacy data that will provide an inexpensive, but efficient conduit for global access by regulators, investors, scientists, producers, and consumers, and their various organizations. We will conduct the animal studies and assemble the information for the website, while the plant research will be completed through collaboration with soil scientists, and the database assembled with assistance of information management experts.