China plans world's biggest 'animal cloning factory'
Announcement comes months after Europe bans cloning of livestock for farming amid high death rate

China is planning to open the world's biggest "animal cloning factory" next year, producing dogs, horses and over a million beef cattle a year.
Although the primary function of the Boyalife centre will be to produce livestock for farming, the £21m plant will also clone racehorses and family pets. The facility will bring the science of cloning "closer to the mainstream", say Chinese state media.
With the price of meat having tripled in the past 15 years and Chinese farmers struggling to provide enough beef for the country's rapidly growing middle class, agricultural biotechnology is seen as a solution to plug the shortfall.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A joint venture by Chinese and South Korean biotechnology companies, the centre will offer to clone family pets for $100,000 each.
The announcement is expected to be condemned by animal welfare activists in Europe, where the cloning of livestock for farming was banned in September.
Renate Sommer, the European Parliament's environment committee co-rapporteur, criticised the technique two months ago for not being "fully mature".
She said the mortality rate remains high, with many of the animals that are born alive dying in the first few weeks and dying "painfully".
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
But Xu Xiaochun, chairman of BoyaLife, dismissed such concerns. "Let me ask one question. Was this ban based on scientific rationale or ethical rationale or political agenda?" he told the Daily Telegraph.
"Legislation is always behind science. But in the area of cloning, I think we are going the wrong way and starting to kill the technology."
-
Bluetoothing: the phenomenon driving HIV spike in Fiji
Under the Radar ‘Blood-swapping’ between drug users fuelling growing health crisis on Pacific island
-
Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetime
Feature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
-
Book reviews: ‘We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution’ and ‘Will There Ever Be Another You’
Feature The many attempts to amend the U.S. Constitution and Patricia Lockwood’s struggle with long Covid
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Delhi's dogs earn Supreme Court reprieve
IN THE SPOTLIGHT After an outcry from the public and animal rights activists, India's Supreme Court walks back a controversial plan to round the city's stray dog population into shelters
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago