Agricultural practices affect billions of soil and crop invertebrates annually. While their welfare status is uncertain, the precautionary case for reducing unnecessary invertebrate harm is growing.
Agricultural systems affect invertebrate welfare at enormous scale, yet invertebrates receive essentially no welfare consideration in agricultural policy or practice. The scientific uncertainty about invertebrate sentience is real but should not be interpreted as certainty of absence of experience. Precautionary consideration suggests that where agricultural practices can achieve their objectives while causing less invertebrate harm, the less harmful approach is preferable. No-till agriculture, reduced pesticide use, and habitat management for beneficial insects all reduce invertebrate harm while delivering agronomic and environmental co-benefits, making them welfare-positive choices with multiple justifications.