Experimental animal research: a sensitive issue for both scientists and society
Résumé
Animals are used in experimental research for different purposes (e.g., mice and rats in biomedical and fundamental biological research). Ruminants, cattle, pigs, poultry, and fish are used in livestock research targeting the production and management of farm animals to produce animal-derived foods. The use of animals in research is challenged by society. The European Commission was asked by both the European Parliament and through a European Citizens’ Initiative to develop an action plan to ban animal experimentation. The Commission responded that banning animal experimentation remains an objective, but that a timeline to achieve this could not be given and that scientific communities need to play a role in achieving the objective. However, animal scientists are not at ease to communicate with society about their research, because of the sensitivity of the question “which issue justifies the use of animals in research?” To find a cure for diseases is probably acceptable for most people. However, using animals in research to provide animal-derived foods is probably less acceptable for citizens, even though it is not always consistent with their behavior as consumers. An open question to the EuroScience Open Forum is how scientists and society (i.e., citizens and consumers) can find a common ground to engage in a constructive dialogue about animal production and animal production research, which is a complex and sensitive issue for all parties.
Domaines
Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]Origine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
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