One challenge in animal advocacy is deciding how to split limited resources between two main strategies: changing social attitudes (like activism and marketing) and developing new technologies (like plant-based or lab-grown meat). Each approach has different risks and benefits. Social change could lead to big shifts in how society treats animals but might also backfire or cause unintended harm. Tech development tends to be more predictable but might take longer to make a real difference. The question is how to balance these strategies for the greatest impact.

Balancing Two Paths to Change

One way to approach this is by creating a framework that evaluates where extra resources could make the most difference. For social change, this might involve identifying advocacy campaigns that avoid harmful side effects—like accidentally making people care less about wild animals. For tech, it could mean focusing on areas where progress is most likely to scale, such as making animal-free foods cheaper and tastier. The framework could also explore how these strategies might work together—for example, using new food technologies as a tool in advocacy campaigns.

Measuring Success and Avoiding Pitfalls

A key part of this idea is developing ways to track impact. Since social change is hard to measure, proxy metrics like shifts in public opinion or sales of ethical products could help. For tech, progress might be easier to quantify, such as improvements in cost or production speed. To prevent unintended consequences, small-scale testing (like focus groups for new campaigns) could catch problems early. Another challenge is getting social advocates and tech developers to collaborate—this might involve shared workshops or platforms where both groups can exchange insights.

This approach could help animal advocacy groups, funders, and researchers make smarter decisions about where to focus their efforts. By carefully weighing risks and opportunities, resources could be directed in ways that maximize benefits for animals while minimizing harm.