Intellectual Property – Coming soon to a fish market near you

If you pay attention to what you eat, and if you are paying attention to what is being fed to you more importantly, there is a bold new frontier about to be crossed.  The USDA is considering approving genetically engineered salmon.  There are a few reasons why I find this story significant.

This is the first animal that is genetically modified to be considered for sale en mass.  Of course, vegetables have been grown using genetically engineered seed for a long time.  And, the reasons for approving the salmon probably sound a lot like the reasons given when genetically engineered seeds were introduced.  It can be grown faster, get to market faster, and of course there is “virtually no difference between this salmon and salmon that is not genetically engineered.”

The second reason I find this story both interesting and bothersome is that the company that is producing the salmon is the company that is responsible for the testing to approve it.  Apparently the way it works is that the company does the tests, and then turns those results over to the USDA for them to review.  I may not be a smart man, but that sounds a bit like the fox guarding the chicken coupe.  I like to think that the USDA has our best interests at heart.  I also like to think that I might someday play baseball for the Yankees.

Lastly, and probably most troubling, is that as of now it appears that the salmon that is genetically engineered will not have to be identified as such when you buy it.  So, when you go to the store, you won’t know if you are buying salmon like you are used to or this new variety.

Intellectual property with regard to food is becoming more and more prevelant.  The companies that produce food with intellectual property rights attached have tremendous control over the marketplace.  Maybe salmon that grows 2x as fast is a good thing.  Then again, maybe not.  Maybe it’s not any different than pumping existing hatcheries full of chemicals to accomplish the same thing.

Would you be OK with buying engineered salmon and not knowing it?