As insect farming scales globally, the question of humane slaughter becomes increasingly important. Several stunning methods show promise for reducing potential suffering.
The welfare stakes in insect farming are enormous given the scale. Even if individual insect sentience is uncertain, the precautionary principle supports adopting less potentially harmful slaughter methods. CO2 stunning followed by cold exposure appears to induce insensibility quickly in crickets and black soldier flies. Freezing prior to processing reduces behavioral distress markers. The challenge is scaling humane methods economically across billions of animals. Standards organizations are beginning to develop welfare guidance for insect producers.