Insect farming is growing rapidly as a sustainable protein source, but the welfare of farmed insects is uncertain and largely unaddressed in regulation.
The welfare status of insects is genuinely uncertain. Their simple nervous systems and different evolutionary history make the application of vertebrate welfare frameworks problematic. Some studies suggest nociception in certain species; others find limited evidence of pain experience. The precautionary principle suggests some welfare consideration is appropriate given the scale of insect use and uncertainty about their capacity to suffer. Research is urgently needed to inform policy.