Welfare Science

Insect Welfare in Mass Rearing Facilities

As insect farming scales globally for food and feed, welfare standards for the billions of insects reared remain largely absent.

Key Facts

Global insect production for food and feed is projected to reach 500,000 tonnes by 2030
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are the most commonly farmed insect globally
Evidence for sentience is uncertain but not ruled out in many insect taxa
Current welfare discussions focus on slaughter methods, stocking density and substrate quality
EU and UK novel food regulations do not currently mandate welfare standards for insects

Welfare Considerations

The precautionary principle suggests that welfare considerations are warranted given scientific uncertainty about insect sentience. Slaughter methods matter most at scale - freezing appears aversive while CO2 may be preferable. As production scales, the potential magnitude of harm justifies research investment even under uncertainty.

What You Can Do

Support research into insect sentience and welfare indicators
Encourage insect farming companies to adopt precautionary welfare standards
Advocate for inclusion of insect welfare in food and feed production regulations
Engage with welfare certification bodies developing insect-specific standards