Welfare Science

Insect Welfare and Mass Rearing Standards

Emerging welfare standards for insects in mass rearing systems, including evidence on insect sentience and suffering.

Key Facts

Over 1 trillion insects are reared globally for food, feed, and other purposes
Evidence of nociception in insects is growing but remains contested
Black soldier fly larvae are the most widely farmed insect for feed
Welfare standards for insect farming are being developed by researchers and NGOs
Stocking density, substrate quality, and slaughter methods are key welfare parameters

Welfare Considerations

Given the scale of insect farming and uncertainty about insect sentience, precautionary welfare standards represent a low-cost insurance against large-scale suffering.

What You Can Do

Support research into insect sentience and welfare
Advocate for precautionary welfare standards in insect farming
Choose insect products from companies with published welfare commitments