« The Body Societal » (The BoS)
Genomic technologies promise to shape the ideal animal of the future. Until now, the social sciences have focused mainly on the medical field, with the Human Genome Project and its aftermath. However, it is in the field of farm animal genomics that the most rapid developments have taken place. Here, a whole infrastructure for collecting, analysing and using genetic data is already in routine use. This infrastructure promises to solve pressing societal problems, such as improving animal health, reducing environmental impact and increasing biodiversity. Focusing on the case of livestock breeding, the ‘The BoS’ project (The Body Societal: Unfolding Genomics Infrastructure in Cattle Livestock Selection and Reproduction), led by François Thoreau, aims to describe and analyse the way in which societal values are translated into the bodies of cattle. How are values such as health, biodiversity and the environment integrated into cattle selection and reproduction? Conversely, how are bodies transformed by these values, and using what techniques and practices?
Apresent day research
To answer these questions, The BoS project intends to develop a political anthropology of the genomic infrastructure in scientific and technical practices. This contribution to science and technology studies in society (STS) is resolutely interdisciplinary.
The BoS project is particularly topical in the current pandemic context, which reminds us that human health is linked to animals and in particular to intensive farming practices. This is the case, for example, with the complex phenomenon of ‘antibiotic resistance’, in which the massive and routine use of antibiotics in industrial livestock farming has repercussions on human health and the ways in which infectious diseases are monitored.
Initially, the research team led by François Thoreau will focus on laboratories, by carrying out three field studies in centres of scientific excellence that contribute to the global genomics of farm animals, in order to study how the values of ‘health’, ‘environment’ and ‘biodiversity’ are transformed into knowledge. Secondly, we will follow this knowledge in the many practices to which it gives rise in the vast world beyond the laboratory, by conducting qualitative surveys of veterinarians, doctors, farmers, biologists and naturalists, companies selling animal seed and philanthropic associations active in ‘global health’ (such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation).
About ERC Grants
ERC Grants are major instruments deployed by the European Research Council to fund research projects in Europe. The extremely selective procedure selects only the best researchers and very high-level research projects, combining boldness and competence to tackle new avenues of research which, if successful, could substantially enrich knowledge.
There are 5 types of grant: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants, Synergy and Proof of Concept.
ERC Starting Grants are designed to support young researchers (2-7 years experience since completion of PhD) with a very promising scientific track record and an excellent research proposal.
