The insect farming industry is growing rapidly as a sustainable protein source, but the welfare of farmed insects remains scientifically contested and largely unregulated.
The welfare status of farmed insects is genuinely uncertain. Some species show nociceptive responses and may have subjective experience of pain; others may not. The scale of insect farming means even low-probability welfare risks could affect very large numbers of individuals. Best practice suggests applying the precautionary principle: minimising potential pain at key stages, investing in research, and developing species-specific welfare standards before the industry scales further. This is an area where welfare science urgently needs to inform policy.