Federal Regulations Should Not Block Innovation
As a society we care about the welfare of animals, as well as the imperative of cost-effective food production to make sure food is affordable and available for everyone. One common denominator that helps meet these goals simultaneously is preventing animal disease. Increasingly, technology is a big part of animal disease prevention.
Recently, I joined animal health and production leaders at the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Fort Worth, TX, where we discussed ways to meet the growing demand for animal protein and the intersection of the growing protein demand with other consumer trends. Animal health underpins the production of protein and is vital to providing a safe and adequate food supply to consumers. Animal health is at the center of addressing animal welfare, sustainability goals, and consumer confidence.
The good news is that our industry is developing and deploying innovative technologies that provide farmers and ranchers with the opportunity to predict, prevent, diagnose, and treat animal illness more quickly, accurately, and safely which in turn affects animal health, saves natural resources and provides data that supports claims which boost consumer confidence.
For example, sensors and smart tags produce data which allow farmers and veterinarians to treat herds at an individual level and at a scale that is nearly impossible when relying solely on farm staff. Diagnostic tools can help farmers and their veterinarians detect disease much earlier, leading to earlier treatment for sick animals and preventing the spread of disease to other animals in the herd.
But the research to develop and implement innovations like these is complex and rigorous. Moreover, the policy and regulatory environment that governs animal medicine presents challenges that can hinder development to final approval. Unclear regulations and limited capabilities by regulators can inhibit regulatory review and execution – simply put, traditional regulations often lack the flexibility and policy framework to assess such products. To remedy this, the Animal Health Institute is working to change regulations and laws to allow regulatory agencies to develop pathways for new and innovative technologies. AHI understands the need for innovation to address consumer demands quickly so that our producers and ranchers can have the necessary tools to provide a nutritious protein supply.
It will take the entire supply chain from animal health, to production, to processing to final product to help make the changes necessary to our regulatory system by working with policymakers in Washington, DC.
Efforts to remove barriers to the development and application of advanced animal health technologies have tremendous potential to improve animal welfare, improve the livelihoods of producers and ranchers, and increase the value of animal production.
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