As insect farming scales to billions of animals, kill methods have profound welfare implications given growing evidence of insect sentience and pain capacity.
The welfare implications of insect kill methods depend critically on whether insects are sentient — a question with growing scientific support for at least some species. If insects experience something like pain or distress, then killing methods that cause prolonged suffering matter morally. Current commercial practices are rarely designed with insect welfare in mind. The Insect Welfare Research Society and other groups advocate for research into rapid, effective kill methods and for precautionary welfare standards even amid ongoing scientific uncertainty.