In January 2026, Canada took a step forward in agricultural biotechnology by approving the country’s first gene-edited (GE) mammal for human consumption. The UK based company Genus PLC used CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically edit pigs to be resistant to the virus that causes porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). PRRS is one of the most economically impactful diseases affecting the swine industry across the globe.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes respiratory illness in pigs including difficulty breathing, coughing, fever, poor appetite, and lung inflammation. In breeding sows, infection can also cause infertility, late-term abortions, stillbirths, and weak piglets. PRRSV can also increase pigs’ susceptibility to other infections, which can lead to increased antibiotic use. There is currently no effective treatment for PRRSV, with existing vaccines only partially effective.
Regarding the PRRS-resistant pig approval, Health Canada has noted the substantial size of the Canadian pork industry. As of 2025, Canada has 13.9 million hogs across 6,885 farms. In 2024, the Canadian swine industry generated more than $6.3 billion in revenue. For an industry that depends on maintaining large numbers of healthy animals, the impacts of a disease outbreak can be devastating for the industry.
Environment and Climate Change Canada describe the gene editing for the PRRS resistant pigs in their scientific risk assessment. Genus PLC used CRISPR-Cas9 to delete exon 7 of the CD163 gene, a viral binding site that allows the PRRS virus to enter the cells. The pigs with two copies of the edited gene are resistant to PRRSV infection, while the rest of the CD163 gene remains functional. The science behind gene-edited pigs is highly targeted, as the edit removes a specific section of an existing gene involved in the virus’s ability to infect pigs. This is one of the features that distinguishes gene editing from older approaches to genetic modification.
The Canadian approval covers four breeding lines of PRRSV-resistant pigs: Landrace, Large White, Duroc, and a mixed line containing Pietrain, Large White, Hampshire and Duroc. The approval involved assessments of food safety, livestock feed safety, and environmental risk. Health Canada assessed the pigs for characteristics including nutritional composition and potential allergenicity, ensuring no nutritional differences from conventional pigs and no safety concerns associated with the genetic modification. The health of the pigs was also considered. The environmental assessment found that, apart from their resistance to PRRS, the gene-edited pigs were comparable to conventional pigs in terms of their overall health and ability to grow and reproduce.
Canada’s approval follows approvals of Genus PLC PRRSV resistant pigs in the United States, Brazil, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. As of January 23, 2026, Health Canada reported that Genus was waiting for approval in other key markets before beginning to sell the pigs in Canada. For now, the approval marks an important example for how gene editing is addressing one of the most prevalent and impactful diseases in the agricultural industry.
Finding ways to reduce disease while maintaining healthy and productive herds could have significant implications for Canadian pork producers. Consider a 2025 economic analysis modelling Canadian adoption of PRRS resistant pigs. In the baseline scenario (70% adoption over 12 years), assuming no change in pork demand or additional cost of swine genetics, pork production increases by 7% while the cost of production declines and pork prices fall. The model finds that after 15 years of gradual adoption, retail pork prices will have decreased by 6%, providing additional benefit to the average consumer.
PRRS-resistant pigs may also have environmental benefits. A 2025 study used data from US pig farms to compare the environmental impacts of pork production during periods with and without PRRSV infection. This life cycle assessment used the International Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 12 climate change categories to look at the impacts of the whole supply chain for each scenario. Life cycle assessment included elements like: growing animal feed, raising pigs, and managing manure. The researchers found that farms with PRRSV had 9–17% higher environmental impacts than farms without the virus. These findings may indicate that GE PRRS resistant pigs may also reduce the pork industries impact on the environment.
These potential economic, welfare, and environmental benefits make the GE pigs an exciting addition to the many other gene-edited foods are already reaching consumers in other countries. Japan has commercialized gene-edited fish, including red sea bream, tiger pufferfish, and olive flounder. These fish have been edited for increased muscle, growth rate, and feed efficiency. In the United States, gene editing is being used to develop crops like romaine lettuce and potatoes with traits such as reduced browning and increased productivity. These are examples of how gene editing is already being used commercially to make food production more efficient. PRRS-resistant pigs bring this same potential for increased efficiency to the production of Canadian pork.
For consumers, the potential benefits go beyond the farm. If PRRS-resistant pigs reduce disease-related losses and lower production costs, those savings could eventually translate into lower pork prices. Producing pork more efficiently could also reduce the resources needed to produce it and its environmental impact. While it will take time to see the effects of widespread adoption, PRRS-resistant pigs show how gene editing could address problems in agriculture while creating benefits for farmers, consumers, and the environment.
Victoria holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and recently completed her thesis-based Master of Arts at the University of Calgary. Her thesis research examined Canada’s federal regulation of genetically modified animals for commercial use, with a particular focus on public participation in regulatory decision-making. Victoria is currently a Programs Officer with Responsible AI Washington.
Outside of her work, she spends her free time with her ferrets, Mocha, Vanilla, and Norbert.
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