Insect farming for human food and animal feed is growing rapidly, with increasing scientific evidence informing welfare assessments for species including black soldier fly, mealworms, and crickets.
Insect welfare is the most numerically significant animal welfare question in food production - the sheer number of individuals involved means even a small probability of sentience creates enormous welfare implications. Current evidence does not resolve whether black soldier fly larvae or mealworms have subjective experience, but the precautionary principle suggests developing welfare standards before evidence is conclusive. Killing methods, rearing density, and thermal environment all have welfare-relevant effects on insect physiology. The industry's early development phase is the optimal time to embed welfare considerations.