Insect farming is expanding globally as a sustainable protein source. The welfare implications are uncertain but merit serious consideration given the enormous numbers involved.
Insect welfare presents a genuine epistemic challenge: we do not know with confidence whether insects experience suffering, but the scale of their use means that even a small probability of suffering translates into enormous total welfare stakes. The precautionary approach suggests that welfare precautions are warranted when designing insect farming systems, particularly around killing methods and stocking density. The field is developing rapidly and there is opportunity to embed welfare considerations into emerging standards before poor practices become entrenched.