Growing scientific evidence that insects may have subjective experiences is beginning to influence policy discussions about their welfare in farming and research.
The scale of insect farming makes even small probabilities of sentience morally significant. If there is a 5% chance that black soldier fly larvae experience something like pain, then current practices cause suffering on an almost incomprehensible scale. Policy has lagged behind science: most jurisdictions have no protections for farmed insects, and welfare research funding is minimal relative to insect farming investment. Key open questions include whether insects can suffer (not just respond to harm), whether different species vary in their capacity for experience, and what stunning or killing methods minimize potential suffering at industrial scale. These questions deserve urgent, well-funded scientific investigation.