The insect farming industry is scaling rapidly without welfare standards. Developing evidence-based welfare frameworks before the industry becomes entrenched is the most efficient welfare intervention available.
Insect farming welfare policy is at a historic inflection point. Unlike dairy, poultry, or pig welfare where decades of entrenched industry practice and infrastructure make reform slow and expensive, insect farming welfare standards can be built into the industry from the beginning. This is a rare opportunity in animal welfare where proactive advocacy can shape industry norms before they become locked in. The scientific uncertainty about insect sentience warrants humility rather than dismissal — acting cautiously under uncertainty costs relatively little and could prevent enormous amounts of suffering if insects have morally significant experiences.