Black soldier fly larvae and mealworms are increasingly farmed as sustainable protein sources. Their welfare status is uncertain, but industry and researchers are developing precautionary welfare standards.
Farmed insect welfare sits at the intersection of sustainability and uncertain sentience. If black soldier fly larvae and mealworms have any subjective experience, their farming in billions represents potential welfare harm at an almost incomprehensible scale. If they lack sentience, no welfare concern applies. The precautionary approach — implementing welfare improvements where feasible at low cost — seems appropriate given the uncertainty. Humane kill methods, appropriate stocking density, and environmental conditions that support natural behavior are reasonable precautionary standards regardless of where the sentience question ultimately resolves.