Engaging society in pig research

Animal welfare problems in pig husbandry are frequently a topic of debate. They have a multitude of causes and the solutions provided can result in unintended consequences for other stakeholders. Scientific insights and technological innovations are often contested or insufficient for solving these problems.

Instead, shared solutions are needed to enhance animal welfare. Their creation can be stimulated by means of a transdisciplinary research approach, in which mutual learning among diverse stakeholder within science and society is facilitated.

This thesis presents the design, process and outcomes of a four-year multi-stakeholder learning process embedded in the transdisciplinary pig research program Seeking Sociable Swine. Described are the dynamics of mutual learning in different settings and with different stakeholders. It reports the hands-on experiences and challenges related to inter- and transdisciplinary research. This thesis presents several strategies on how to design effective multi-stakeholder processes that facilitate an interactive innovation process and support mutual learning.