Insect Farming for Food and Welfare Implications

Insect farming is expanding as a sustainable protein source, raising novel welfare questions about the sentience and suffering of billions of farmed invertebrates.

Key Facts

Global insect farming is projected to reach 1 million tonnes of production by 2030
Black soldier fly larvae are the most commonly farmed species for food and feed
Mealworms, crickets, and locusts are farmed for human consumption in many countries
The welfare status of insects remains scientifically contested but increasingly studied
EU Novel Food Regulations have approved several insect species for human consumption
Insect farming typically requires far less land, water, and feed than conventional livestock

Welfare Considerations

The question of whether farmed insects suffer is genuinely uncertain but not negligible — insects possess nociceptors, show protective responses to noxious stimuli, and some demonstrate learned avoidance. With billions of individual insects in farming systems, even a small probability of meaningful suffering creates a significant expected welfare impact. Temperature extremes used in processing insects — freezing or roasting — may cause suffering if insects are sentient. Research into insect welfare is urgently needed to inform industry practices.

What You Can Do

Support research into insect sentience and welfare-conscious farming practices
Advocate for industry standards that apply precautionary welfare principles to insect farming
If consuming insect products, seek out producers that acknowledge and address welfare uncertainty
Engage with scientific literature on invertebrate sentience
Support development of rapid-killing methods that minimize potential suffering
Donate to organizations researching invertebrate welfare and pain