# Experimental animal research: a sensitive issue for both scientists and society

Jaap J. van Milgen

► To cite this version:

Jaap J. van Milgen. Experimental animal research: a sensitive issue for both scientists and society. EuroScience Open Forum, Jun 2024, Katowice, Poland., 2024, D 2.1 Conference program and the book of abstracts. hal-04614231

HAL Id: hal-04614231

https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04614231

Submitted on 17 Jun 2024

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>
# Experimental animal research: a sensitive issue for both scientists and society

Jaap J. van Milgen

► To cite this version:

Jaap J. van Milgen. Experimental animal research: a sensitive issue for both scientists and society. EuroScience Open Forum, Jun 2024, Katowice, Poland., 2024, D 2.1 Conference program and the book of abstracts. hal-04614231

HAL Id: hal-04614231

https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04614231v1

Submitted on 17 Jun 2024

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

# Sustainable Environment

## (0216) Experimental animal research: a sensitive issue for both scientists and society

Jaap van Milgen, INRAE, Institut Agro, France, jaap.vanmilgen@inrae.fr

### A sensitive issue

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

### What is PIGWEB?

An infrastructure project for experimental research for sustainable pig production

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

**PIGWEB's joint research activities:**

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

* Develop non- or minimally invasive methods to replace procedures requiring surgery and invasive sampling, isolation, and/or spatial restrictions

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

* Develop novel methods, tools, and technologies that provide indicators of welfare, behaviour, and body composition

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

* Develop a research toolbox to phenotype pigs for traits using data obtained through non- or minimally invasive measurements and model algorithms

### Initiatives to ask the EU Commission to develop an action plan to end the use of animals in research and testing

2021 Resolution by the EU Parliament

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>

667 in favor, 4 against, 16 abstentions

2023 European Citizens' Initiative

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /></figure>

1,217,916 signatories from 27 countries

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /></figure>

European Commission

### Response:

* Kick off work on a roadmap towards replacing animal with multiple actions and a step-by-step path to replacing animal testing involving all relevant stakeholders

* Initiate actions to accelerate the reduction of animal testing in research, education and training

* Continue to support research on alternatives to animal testing with EU funding

### Conclusions

* Animal scientists are not at ease to communicate with society about their research

* There is a (increasing?) gap between consumers and citizens about animal products and animal production

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /></figure>

The PIGWEB project has received funding from European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 101004770.

This publication reflects the views only of the author, and not the European Commission (EC). The EC is not liable for any use that may be made of them information contained herein.

### Views of EU citizens and the PIGWEB community on pork, pig production, and pig production research

**As a consumer**

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /></figure>

What information do you look for when you buy pork?

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /></figure>

What other information do you consider?

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /></figure>

**As a citizen**

<figure><img src="image_15.png" /></figure>

Keep pigs indoors to keep them clean but prevent them from digging and rooting

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /></figure>

Castrate pigs to improve pork quality and prevent them to become sexually active and aggressive

<figure><img src="image_17.png" /></figure>

**As a scientist**

<figure><img src="image_18.png" /></figure>

Given the objective, which research methods are (in-)acceptable for you?

<figure><img src="image_19.png" /></figure>

### Questions

* How can animal scientists overcome their hesitation and engage in a constructive dialogue with society?

* Can animal scientists contribute to re-aligning consumers and citizens?

<figure><img src="image_20.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_21.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_22.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_23.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_24.png" /></figure>
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

# Sustainable Environment

## (0216) Experimental animal research: a sensitive issue for both scientists and society

Jaap van Milgen, INRAE, Institut Agro, France, jaap.vanmilgen@inrae.fr

### A sensitive issue

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

### What is PIGWEB?

An infrastructure project for experimental research for sustainable pig production

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

**PIGWEB's joint research activities:**

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

* Develop non- or minimally invasive methods to replace procedures requiring surgery and invasive sampling, isolation, and/or spatial restrictions

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

* Develop novel methods, tools, and technologies that provide indicators of welfare, behaviour, and body composition

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

* Develop a research toolbox to phenotype pigs for traits using data obtained through non- or minimally invasive measurements and model algorithms

### Initiatives to ask the EU Commission to develop an action plan to end the use of animals in research and testing

2021 Resolution by the EU Parliament

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>

667 in favor, 4 against, 16 abstentions

2023 European Citizens' Initiative

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /></figure>

1,217,916 signatories from 27 countries

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /></figure>

European Commission

### Response:

* Kick off work on a roadmap towards replacing animal with multiple actions and a step-by-step path to replacing animal testing involving all relevant stakeholders

* Initiate actions to accelerate the reduction of animal testing in research, education and training

* Continue to support research on alternatives to animal testing with EU funding

### Conclusions

* Animal scientists are not at ease to communicate with society about their research

* There is a (increasing?) gap between consumers and citizens about animal products and animal production

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /></figure>

The PIGWEB project has received funding from European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 101004770.

This publication reflects the views only of the author, and not the European Commission (EC). The EC is not liable for any use that may be made of them information contained herein.

### Views of EU citizens and the PIGWEB community on pork, pig production, and pig production research

**As a consumer**

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /></figure>

What information do you look for when you buy pork?

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /></figure>

What other information do you consider?

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /></figure>

**As a citizen**

<figure><img src="image_15.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /></figure>

Castrate pigs to improve pork quality and prevent them to become sexually active and aggressive

<figure><img src="image_17.png" /></figure>

**As a scientist**

<figure><img src="image_18.png" /></figure>

Given the objective, which research methods are (in-)acceptable for you?

<figure><img src="image_19.png" /></figure>

### Questions

* How can animal scientists overcome their hesitation and engage in a constructive dialogue with society?

* Can animal scientists contribute to re-aligning consumers and citizens?

<figure><img src="image_20.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_21.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_22.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_23.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_24.png" /></figure>