Earthworms play a critical role in soil health and are increasingly recognized as having welfare implications relevant to agricultural practices.
Earthworm welfare occupies an interesting philosophical position. Their pain responses are documented and they are far more ecologically important than almost any other animal. Agricultural practices that kill billions of earthworms annually through tillage, pesticide application and soil compaction cause both ecological harm and potential animal welfare harm. From a welfare perspective, regenerative agriculture practices that support earthworm populations are doubly beneficial: they improve soil health as an ecosystem service while reducing the suffering of billions of sentient (or potentially sentient) animals. Vermiculture operations should maintain appropriate moisture, temperature and density conditions. The scale of earthworm welfare impact from agricultural practice choices makes it a significant consideration in food system ethics.