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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #406260
Research Project: Strategies to Manage Feed Nutrients, Reduce Gas Emissions, and Promote Soil Health for Beef and Dairy Cattle Production Systems of the Southern Great Plains

Location: Livestock Nutrient Management Research

Title: Utilizing a CRISPR-Cas9 targeted foodborne pathogen antimicrobial within livestock feed: a market research perspective

Author
item Frazier, Anthony - Nathan
item YANG, HUA - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/24/2023
Publication Date: 8/25/2023
Citation: Frazier, A.N., Yang, H. 2023. Utilizing a CRISPR-Cas9 targeted foodborne pathogen antimicrobial within livestock feed: A market research perspective. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 14(2023). Article e100758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100758.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100758

Interpretive Summary: A novel CRISPR-Cas9 targeted pathogen killing system has recently been investigated for its potential as a livestock feed antimicrobial for the control of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef cattle. While it has been shown to work in vitro, the potential of such a novel biotechnology to make it to the marketplace remains in question. Researchers at Colorado State University and the USDA-ARS in Bushland, TX implemented a market research study to investigate the market ecosystem and regulatory hurdles new biotechnology faces. The study elucidated the target customer, determined the movement and flow of materials through a market ecosystem, and evaluated the regulatory hurdles for new biotechnology.

Technical Abstract: A customizable CRISPR-Cas9 targeted pathogen killing system has recently been studied and offers potential as a novel antimicrobial product in the production livestock animal market. Questions remain however regarding the commercialization and market acceptability of the new CRISPR-Cas9 product. A study was designed to evaluate the product’s value, the target customer, and the regulatory aspects of how the product will move in the target market ecosystem. The current study utilizes a three-pronged integrated methodology involving attendance of a market research workshop to learn the tools necessary to complete market research, an interview process, and a comprehensive literature review. Overall, the interviews resulted in 20 interviews consisting of industry experts, production livestock operations personnel, regulatory experts, and academicians. Additionally, the primary focus of the market ecosystem for the novel product was found to be the regulatory process. This determination was established on the basis of the definition of the product being one of a new animal drug with intent to reduce foodborne pathogens in the public sector. Overall, our study maintains that our new CRISPR-Cas9 biotechnology offers producers an alternative intervention method, could improve consumer perception, and outlines a regulatory pathway for the target market ecosystem.