Insect farming is expanding rapidly as a sustainable protein source, but the welfare of billions of farmed insects remains poorly understood and largely unregulated.
The welfare implications of insect farming are genuinely uncertain given limited evidence on insect sentience. However, applying a precautionary principle suggests that minimizing potential suffering through better slaughter methods and appropriate stocking densities is prudent. As insect farming scales, establishing welfare standards now will be easier than retrofitting later.