Moving Towards Non-Animal-Based Methods: An Exploratory Study into Path Dependency, Lock-In, and Institutional, Technological, and Normative Drivers and Barriers Regarding the Transition towards Non-Animal-Based Methods in the Research and Innovation Industry in the Netherlands
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2023-09-10
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en
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How do institutional, technological, and normative drivers and barriers influence the current practices, defined by path dependency and lock-in, to transition towards non-animal-based methods in the animal-based research and innovation industry in the Netherlands? This study builds upon the concepts of institutional, technological, and normative drivers and barriers, path dependency and lock-in, in an attempt to answer this question by means of a case study based on the Wageningen University & Research combined with expert interviews in the field. It can be derived that while animal experimentation is still considered the "gold standard" in the scientific community, there are advancements that yield better results. Due to the high cost and the difficulty of replacing animal-based experiments, these practices have become locked in and path dependent. Institutional drivers and barriers influence these current practices and developments, for instance by prioritizing minimizing animal suffering and maximizing animal welfare. Additionally, technological opportunities drive forward the transition towards non-animal-based methods. However, there are technological limitations, and complete comprehension and successful replication of interactions between different systems of a whole animal have proven to be a complex task. Furthermore, changing ethical concerns act as a normative driver for a transition towards non-animal-based methods.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen