Invertebrates

Insect Welfare in Mass Rearing Facilities

As insect farming scales up for food and feed production, questions about insect welfare and capacity for suffering are gaining scientific and ethical urgency.

Key Facts

Over one trillion insects may be farmed for food and feed globally each year
Black soldier fly larvae are increasingly used to process organic waste into protein
Research suggests some insects show pain avoidance behaviors and stress responses
Current insect farming practices are largely unregulated with no welfare standards

Welfare Considerations

The enormous scale of insect farming — trillions of animals — means that even a small probability of sentience carries massive welfare implications. Scientific evidence on insect sentience is mixed but growing, with some species showing behaviors consistent with pain experience. The precautionary principle and the scale of production demand urgent welfare research and preliminary standards.

What You Can Do

Support research into insect sentience and welfare
Engage with insect farming companies about developing welfare standards
Apply the precautionary principle when making food choices
Advocate for regulatory frameworks addressing insect welfare at scale