| dc.description.abstract | This thesis researched the feasibility and the moral adequacy of the policy for
system innovations in the livestock sector, which is part of the policy program for
sustainable livestock farming. The aim of this study has been doing
recommendations for the governance of system innovations. To this end, the
program theory that underlies the policy for system innovations has been
assessed on its feasibility and its moral adequacy. The feasibility of the program
was in addition examined in a case study to the application of the Rondeel
system, an integral sustainable animal housing system for layer poultry. The
policy for system innovations aims at the large scale application of such integral
sustainable animal housing systems. The program theory that underlies this
policy appeared to show several weaknesses. Overall, it lacked internal
consistency. Whereas stakeholder and societal support for the program is
sufficient, its enforceability is poor due unfeasible goals and objectives and a not
completely adequate allocation of resources to the program. In addition, the
program can not be regarded as morally adequate since avoidable suffering in the
form of animals suffering from is still a policy consequence. The policy improves
however animal welfare strongly and it is thus a moral improvement. Despite the
weak feasibility of the program theory, the case study on the Rondeel system
revealed factors of success for the development of integral sustainable animal
housing systems and their application in practice. From this, recommendations for
the governance of system innovations could be done. Factors of success are:
extensive research to stakeholder demands; stakeholder involvement in the
development and realization process; the presence of an organization that is
deeply committed to make the product marketable, entrepreneurial courage and
a good presentation of the new product to the consumer. These lessons can be
taken to similar cases where a new sustainable system needs be developed that
is marketable and/or where such a system needs to be brought in practice. With
the recommendations this study gives, it will still be a challenge to realize new
concepts in practice, but they should be sufficient to overcome the obstacles. A
next challenge is the large scale application of sustainable animal housing
systems, that is the development from niche market to mainstream. This study
provided some suggestions from innovation literature. The conclusion of this
study is that the policy for system innovations is not feasible, but that there is
nevertheless perspective on feasibility. To this end, the policy should make two
major improvements: (1) establishing time-dependent instruments with clear
goals and (2) making more financial and knowledge resources available and
allocating them to the program activities. | |
