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The Far Out Initiative
The Suffering Abolition Company
## Welcome to The Far Out Initiative Public Benefit Biotech Company
*The Far Out Initiative (TFOI)* is a pioneering Public Benefit Biotech Company dedicated to revolutionizing genetic and pharmacological research to eliminate maladaptive and involuntary suffering in all sentient beings, including human and non-human animals. As a part of a global collaborative effort, we are inspired by the principles of suffering abolitionism championed by philosopher David Pearce. Our mission is simple yet profound: to maximally contribute to the eradication of unnecessary and unwanted suffering wherever it exists.
### Laying Foundations for a Suffering-Free Future
At The Far Out Initiative, we are committed to the foundational belief that minimizing maladaptive suffering, especially when intense, is the highest ethical priority. We view our work as building the early essential infrastructure upon which all future forms of sentience can flourish. Like emergency medical responders following the triage process, we are focused on addressing the morally urgent need to alleviate suffering, setting aside counterproductive ideological differences and bridging divides to concentrate on this universally shared priority. We strive to serve as and contribute to maintaining a neutral ground where diverse perspectives can converge in the shared pursuit of reducing suffering.
Our current research is centered on two primary objectives:
#### 1. *Human Gene Therapy producing Adaptive Pain Insensitivity/Asymbolia*
We investigate the highly adaptive cases of genetic pain insensitivity syndromes, eliminating large portions of physical and psychological suffering, working towards a viable human gene therapy. This research program -- possessing both exploratory and translational aspects -- aims to profoundly reduce the burden of intense physical and psychological suffering affecting humanity, regardless of the proximate sources and global circumstances beyond our control.
#### 2. *Germline Engineering for Farm Animals*
Recognizing the volumes of maladaptive suffering associated with factory farming, we are exploring germline engineering techniques to create farm animal lines that are profoundly resistant to physical and psychological suffering. With over 70 billion farm animals enduring extreme suffering yearly, our approach serves as an emergency measure to mitigate this ongoing crisis, complementary with other approaches (such as the reducetarian/vegan advocacy or the introduction of cultured meat and plant-based alternatives). Our vision includes the development of gene-knockout animals with a profoundly reduced capacity for suffering, classified as 'precision-rred' rather than GMOs, allowing us to penetrate critical meat markets like those of the UK and Brazil.
Sustained value alignment is pivotal to us. We structure our financial arrangements and research protocols to ensure that our work results in a net reduction of suffering. Our goal is not to increase the number of beings in factory farms, but to replace the counterfactually suffering beings with those with a drastically reduced capacity for suffering. This approach allows us to aim at a future with minimum pain and exploitation while reducing suffering along the challenging path to that future. Organizational flexibility translates into our commitment to carefully monitor and adjust our strategies, ensuring we are consistently reducing the overall scope of animal suffering, not expanding.
In parallel, we closely monitor emerging technologies in tissue engineering and related fields holding the potential to lead to even more humane, animal-free meat solutions. We are prepared to invest in promising (sub)projects and, if a particular research path in animal-free meat demonstrates rapid scalability and potential to disrupt the meat industry, we will prioritize and redirect our research efforts accordingly. This commitment ensures that we remain at the forefront of ethical innovation in food production, continuously striving to minimize animal suffering.
### Open Science, Safety, Privacy, and Global Collaboration
We firmly believe that science should be a common pursuit for the benefit of all sentient beings. Our status as a public benefit company is merely an appropriate response to the current economic environment, allowing us to effectively pursue our goals within the existing structures. We are committed to open access research, collaborative partnerships, and technology transfer, all while maintaining robust safeguards for privacy and safety. When necessary, we pursue ethical patents solely to prevent proprietary interests from hostile appropriation and reducing the accessibility of effective treatments and preventative measures.
### Ethical Commitment and Pragmatic Approach
Our initiative is driven by the urgent need to alleviate the suffering of as many sentient beings as possible. We recognize that while long-term solutions like tissue engineering for meat production are crucial, immediate action is required to address ongoing suffering. Our focus on reducing animal suffering in factory farms through advanced genetic solutions ensures that we can rapidly and effectively tackle pressing ethical challenges.
We remain adaptable in our approach, open to evolving our organizational structure as global research paradigms shift. Our technological optimism is tempered with a commitment to transparency and responsible development, always prioritizing the most effective means to reduce suffering and benefit all sentient beings.
Join us in building the foundation for a suffering-free future. The Far Out Initiative is proud to be part of the global effort not just envisioning a better world, but actively laying the groundwork for it today. Together, we can contribute to creating a reality where involuntary suffering is a thing of the past, replaced by a future of compassion and well-being for all sentient beings.
© 2024 The Far Out Initiative. All rights reserved.
contact@faroutinitiative.com