AquaBounty Update

The FDA will be holding a public meeting….concerning the environmental assessment for AquaBounty on Thursday. The public meeting starts at 1 p.m. and concerns the draft amended Environmental Assessment for the company’s genetically modified salmon. AquaBounty intends to build a farm in Pioneer that will produce 10,000 tons of genetically modified salmon a year. It has gained controversy in the area for its intended use of a maximum of 5 million gallons of water a day from the local aquifer while also discharging that much into the St. Joseph River. In 2015, the FDA approved an application for AquaBounty’s genetically modified AquAdvantage Salmon. The environmental assessment and the Finding of No Significant Impact for the product were issued at the same time.