The rapid growth of insect farming for food and feed raises urgent welfare questions about whether and how insects suffer and what husbandry standards are appropriate.
The welfare status of farmed insects is scientifically uncertain but morally significant given the scale of production. Current evidence suggests insects may experience nociception and some form of aversive state, warranting application of the precautionary principle. Optimal husbandry includes appropriate temperature, humidity, substrate, and feeding conditions that allow normal behaviour expression. Welfare-informed killing methods are beginning to be investigated by researchers and regulators, particularly in the EU.