The Body Societal: Unfolding Genomics Infrastructure in Cattle Livestock Selection and Reproduction

Project Information

The BoS

Grant agreement ID: 949577

DOI

10.3030/949577

Project closed

EC signature date 29 March 2021

Start date 1 April 2021

End date 31 March 2026

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 1 497 000,00

EU contribution

€ 1 497 000,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - The BoS (The Body Societal: Unfolding Genomics Infrastructure in Cattle Livestock Selection and Reproduction)

Reporting period: 2024-04-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The main objectives of the research project are:

Overall Aim: To analyze and question the shaping of the "perfect cow" through genomics, exploring the diverse forms this perfection takes based on various social actors' perspectives. The perfect cow is expected to provide milk or meat, maintain good health, face health challenges with minimal feed intake, reduce environmental impact, and respect biodiversity and genetic diversity.

Specific Objectives:

* Investigate how values like health, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability are incorporated into cattle selection and reproduction through genomics.
* Examine the promises and practical applications of genomics in shaping the ideal cow.
* Understand the role of the "epistemic infrastructure" of genomics in influencing choices and decisions related to cattle bodies.
* Address the gap in systematic studies covering the widespread use of genomics infrastructure in the livestock industry and their effects in practices.

Novelty of the Project: Focus on livestock genomics as a critical case where genomics science has been translated into widespread practices, particularly in the cattle industry.
Highlight the divide between human and non-human genomics in terms of institutional and ethical constraints, emphasizing the need for social science analysis in animal genomics.

Importance of the project: answer the current social crisis of livestock farming in western societies and its disputed becoming in times of economicization and rise of alternative diets or even cultured meat.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The research project has made significant progress across its main objectives and activities. The project, led by the Principal Investigator (PI), involved the successful implementation of development phases, recruitment of research personnel, and the execution of fieldwork in diverse locations. Key achievements include the completion of a policy report on global health and One Health for internal use, progress in laboratory ethnographies for case studies, and the initiation of a new fieldwork in Corsica following the recruitment of an another researcher. The project has effectively tackled interdisciplinary challenges through shared culture development, IT tools, academic venues, and hands-on workshops organized throughout our innovative quarterly week-long meetings held in residency. So far the project resulted in a wealth of publications in national and international academic publications, addressing both the scientific community at large but also more specialized audience interested in cultural and political dimensions of livestock farming.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Further planned upcoming achievements include a wealth of writings, such as the completion of three PhD thesis and a state-of-the-art paper on genomics infrastructure ; a paper on political genealogies of genomic selection ; and a special issue of an international journal on "ecological remediation". The team will also contribute to the organisation of a Science&Arts festival dedicated to bodies and how they are enmeshed in fictions and story-telling, in the era of genomic intervention and editing. This festival will be held in October 2024. Finally, the project's interdisciplinary approach and achievements position it as a significant contributor to advancing research in the field. Workshops will be held (either in Venice, Tromso or Lausanne) around these topics with an audience of young and talented PIs who have international recognition, in order to share and compare good practices.

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