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The Social Implications of Animal Biopharming in New Zealand

The Social Implications of Animal Biopharming in New Zealand . Introduction. Definition Why Animal Biopharming? What are social implications? Methdology Scoping Interviews Findings Further investigation . Definition.

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The Social Implications of Animal Biopharming in New Zealand

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  1. The Social Implications of Animal Biopharming in New Zealand

  2. Introduction • Definition • Why Animal Biopharming? • What are social implications? • Methdology • Scoping • Interviews • Findings • Further investigation

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

  4. Why animal biopharming? • Strong farming sector • Diversify • Freedom from disease (BSE, scrapie) • Foreign investment opportunities • Medical health benefits • Opportunities for avoiding patent expiration

  5. “to that end, the use of transgenic animals to generate large amounts of human protein-based drugs is a natural fit for New Zealand” (Beckman and Goldberg, 2003). • “ My feeling is that it will be a New Zealand animal that does it first. I would be very, I would be quite surprised if it’s a non New Zealand animal that gets the first product on the market, I think , the way things are going…” MoRST

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

  7. What are social implications? • Two types of social implication discovered through ‘local knowledge’ • The implication of a new technology on social practices • The implication of social practices on how a technology is used, and therefore, the risk of that technology.

  8. In order to understand the risk of a new technology, it is vital to assess this technology within its social context. • Wynne (1991,1992,1996) case study of Cubrian Sheep farmers.

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

  10. Assessment of risk should consider • How rules are followed 2. How specific environments shapes practices and risk 3. How social arrangements and relationships shape practices

  11. How? Find people with knowledge of these things. (Local knowledge)

  12. Methodology Scoping Interview Local knowledge

  13. Where is it headed? Scenarios

  14. Dairy • AgResearch deal with Pharma. Producing human lactoferrin in cows milk. Current assessment has been conducted within the relative controlled environment of field trials.

  15. Possible Risks Vertical and Horizontal Spread Cow or milk in Food Supply Containment (cows from entering, cows from escaping)

  16. Management Structures • Owned by Farmer • Owned by pharmaceutical company • Subsidised operation • Fewer cows needed

  17. Interviewing Dairy Farmers • how would they run this operation? • Are controls practical? • What risks can they identify? • Who else might be affected by this? • What are the implications of possible management structures?

  18. Areas of risk identified Rule following Ability to contain Economic Factors

  19. Rule following and human error • The more people working the bigger chance for error. • Who is employed is important • rule following is tied to economics • Neighbours maybe be less likely to follow rules • Belief in the risk maybe important • Farmers may choose unique ways of following rules

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

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

  22. Ability to contain • Human error • People entering the farm • Flooding • Grazing patterns

  23. Economic • Turnover of farms “farms that are bought and sold and the tenure of the farms changes with sharemilkers, it is quite dramatic…” • Flexibility of production is a risk • Poor economic position can lead to “corner cutting” • Need for insurance

  24. Environment • Soil • Farm position • Level of Watertable

  25. Current Assessment of Risks • Application specific. • No methodology for applicants to assess risk. • No strict methodology to assess economic and social problems.

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

  27. Further Research • Talk to milk transporters • Talk to meat works • Talk to organic farmers

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