Genetically Modified Salmon Coming Soon in Canada and USA

The company, which specializes in the cultivation of genetically modified salmon, has recently received official environmental approval of its activities, and in the near future its products will appear in supermarkets in Canada and the United States. Salmon is considered one of the most valuable breeds in the world, and the demand for it is traditionally high. But why salmon created by nature did not please fish producers, that they decided to create an improved version of fish with the help of geneticists.

As is often the case when creating genetically modified species of farm animals or plants, the problem is the low profitability of growing traditional species. And if for improved plants high yield and resistance to huge doses of pesticides are important, then for salmon growth speed is important. If an ordinary representative of Atlantic salmon reaches the required size by 30 months, that is, it takes 2.5 years to grow it, then the salmon, which geneticists worked on, will grow to a marketable weight by 1.5 years. Such record levels are achieved through a special gene that allows fish to grow faster. The huge savings of the manufacturer’s funds when growing a new species are obvious, but the debate about the benefits of such a product is still ongoing.

AquaBounty, a fast-growing salmon breeding company, has been seeking a positive environmental decision for several years in Canada and the United States. Recently it was announced that it is suitable for food, which means that the path for genetically modified salmon is open. Despite the fact that a number of environmentalists and public figures oppose such food products, the company is enthusiastic and announced its immediate plans.

The salmon breeding company owns two factories. The first is located in the US state of Indiana, and the second is in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. As producers hope, the first tons of modified salmon will go on sale by the end of 2020, but time will tell whether it will be in demand among consumers.