Animal Research at WUR – knowledge about animals for a sustainable future

Animal research at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has a clear mission: to respond to urgent societal challenges while fulfilling legal responsibilities. Most of the research is ‘target animal research’: research in the interest of the animal or the species itself. From monitoring fish populations and testing animal vaccines to developing circular animal-friendly food systems – the knowledge it generates helps policy makers, farmers, nature managers and the public make meaningful choices.

“Our primary responsibility is clear: with knowledge about animals, we contribute to solutions that help both society and nature move forward. We do so with respect for the animal and with attention to the larger system in which humans, animals and the environment interact,” says Ernst van den Ende, Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group at WUR.

WUR’s animal scientists not only work in laboratories but also in forests, rivers and deserts. You will find them along the coast, on islands, in barns and behind computer screens. They apply innovative methods and technologies to achieve their goal: developing and sharing knowledge about animals that supports animal wellbeing, sustainable food production, the recovery of biodiversity and the health of both humans and animals.

For example:

• Animal welfare in healthy production systems: in barns, cows, pigs and chickens are monitored with sensors and cameras that continuously record behaviour, welfare and health – without disturbing the animal.
• Field studies on otters, migratory birds and insects reveal how species move and how nature management can aid population recovery. This often involves the use of transmitters that track animals remotely.
• Water and soil in focus: underwater robots and DNA analysis provide insights into aquatic life, even in places that are too dangerous for researchers to access or where the ecosystem must not be disturbed.
• Computer models and data analysis help researchers predict how animals respond to changes in climate, nutrition or environment, generating valuable information for policy and practice.
• Nutrition and health: animal research is necessary to develop healthy animal feed and veterinary medicines.

WUR’s animal research does not stand alone. It links major WUR themes such as biodiversity, health, climate change, sustainable land and water use, and sustainable food production. Van den Ende notes: “We do not have the luxury of solving problems one by one. Climate, biodiversity, animal health and food security are all interconnected. Only by working together can we arrive at sustainable solutions.”

The stories behind the research are tangible and vivid: the otter returning to a restored river valley, the sensor that detects illness in a cow before symptoms show, the robot silently sampling water beneath the surface. These examples demonstrate how science is coming ever closer to the animal without disturbing it.

“We are not yet where we want to be,” says Van den Ende, “but I trust in the power of collaboration and innovation. We have the knowledge, the technology and, above all, the commitment of people who want to make a difference.”