Farmed Insect Welfare: Mealworms and Black Soldier Flies

Mealworms and black soldier fly larvae are among the most widely farmed insect species, with their welfare status increasingly examined as production scales globally.

Key Facts

Black soldier fly larvae are used in animal feed, waste processing, and pet food, with production reaching millions of tonnes
Mealworms were approved for human consumption in the EU in 2021, the first such approval
Insects are typically killed by freezing, boiling, or shredding - the welfare implications of each method differ
Research on insect nociception shows pain-like responses in some species but evidence for subjective suffering is contested
The welfare of insects during farming is affected by density, temperature, humidity, and substrate quality
Switzerland, recognizing uncertainty about insect sentience, included social insects in its animal welfare ordinance

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of farmed insects sits at the frontier of animal welfare science. Current evidence suggests insects have nociceptors and respond to tissue damage, but whether this constitutes morally relevant suffering is uncertain. The precautionary principle suggests that where suffering is possible at this scale - trillions of animals - minimum welfare standards should apply. The most urgent research questions concern slaughter methods, density limits, and which species are most likely to have welfare-relevant experiences.

What You Can Do

Support funding for insect welfare science to resolve current uncertainty
Apply a precautionary approach to insect products given the possibility of morally relevant suffering
Advocate for insect welfare standards to be included in food system regulations
Back organizations like the Insect Welfare Research Society developing evidence-based standards
Engage thoughtfully with insect farming as a potential improvement on vertebrate farming while acknowledging its own welfare questions