Insect farming is expanding rapidly as a sustainable protein source, but regulatory frameworks for insect welfare are almost entirely absent globally.
The regulatory gap for insect welfare is striking given the scale of the industry. If insects are sentient — and the evidence increasingly suggests some may have meaningful pain-like experiences — then the trillion-scale numbers involved make this one of the most significant welfare issues numerically. The precautionary principle argues for developing welfare standards now rather than waiting for complete scientific certainty. Policymakers, producers, and researchers all have important roles in building a rational framework for insect welfare.