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Better Pork Featured Articles

Better Pork magazine is published bimonthly. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Livestock breeding patent unites German farmers and environmentalists

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

German farmers and environmentalists have something in common for once. Both groups object to a patent being granted on a gene that is linked to rapid growth in pigs. In a rare show of solidarity, 400 of them protested in front of the European Patent Office in Munich in mid-April. Their shared goal – to prevent a patent application for livestock breeding from being granted.

The technique, described in Patent EP 1651777, is not a genetic modification, but a screening process to find and mate pigs that naturally grow fast. Farmers believe that eventually they might have to pay a private company a royalty to produce livestock they have raised themselves. Originally filed in the patent office in 2004 by Monsanto, the patent has since been granted to Newsham Choice Genetics. BP
 

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Manitoba Flood Financial Relief from AgriStability

Friday, July 24, 2026

The governments of Canada and Manitoba have announced new measures to help farmers recover from severe flooding that affected many parts of Manitoba during June and July. The support is being provided through enhancements to the AgriStability program, giving producers greater flexibility and... Read this article online

Better Internet May Be Coming to Your Farm

Friday, July 24, 2026

Farmers and rural residents across Saskatchewan could soon gain improved access to high-speed Internet following a major federal funding announcement aimed at expanding broadband connectivity throughout the province. The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural... Read this article online

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