Farmed insects represent a potentially welfare-relevant population numbering in the trillions. The question of insect sentience and the implications for farming practice deserve serious consideration.
The welfare stakes of insect farming are uncertain but potentially enormous given the numbers involved. If insects have any capacity for suffering — even a small probability — the welfare implications of farming practices affecting trillions of animals require serious consideration. Current insect farming practices were designed for production efficiency without welfare consideration. Optimal density, enrichment, slaughter methods and end-of-life management have received minimal research attention. The precautionary principle suggests that developing and implementing best-practice welfare standards for insect farming is warranted given the scale of production and the genuine scientific uncertainty about insect sentience. Several organisations including the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) are beginning to address this gap.