New Polling Highlights Strong Public Support for Insect Farming Regulations
Over 9 out of 10 Brits support regulations on insect farms
As the UK government considers regulatory changes to support the growth of the insect farming industry, new polling suggests the British public overwhelmingly supports safeguards for insect welfare, biosecurity, and genetic oversight.
The nationally representative survey, conducted by Savanta on behalf of the Insect Institute, found that:
92% of UK adults support mandatory welfare protections for farmed insects, signaling broad concern about the treatment of animals that currently fall outside the scope of conventional welfare standards.
94% believe insect farms should be required to prevent disease outbreaks, indicating public awareness of biosecurity risks and their potential implications for biodiversity and animal health, such as potentially spreading diseases to wild insects.
91% support regulations on the use of genetically modified or selectively bred insects, reflecting concerns about ecological impacts should such insects escape or interbreed with wild populations.
These findings come at a critical juncture. Insect farming has been promoted as a more sustainable alternative to conventional protein sources. However, emerging research casts doubt on the industry’s sustainability claims, and some of the largest insect farming companies that raised hundreds of millions in investments are floundering. Meanwhile, UK regulations have not kept pace with the industry’s expansion. Insects are not currently covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, nor are there specific guidelines governing their treatment in commercial settings.
At the same time, scientific research suggests that some commonly farmed insect species, including black soldier flies and mealworms, may be capable of experiencing pain or suffering. The RSPCA has acknowledged the potential for insect sentience and requested a pause in industry growth until there is sufficient information and legislation to safeguard their welfare. And just a few years ago, the UK government formally recognized decapod crustaceans and cephalopods—which possess similar traits as insects with respect to their capacity for pain and other feelings—as sentient beings under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022.
Despite this, trillions of insects are now farmed globally each year, largely without regulatory oversight or industry welfare standards. The UK government is considering whether to permit processed insect protein in livestock feed, a change that could dramatically scale up the country’s insect farming sector.
Given this trajectory, experts argue that the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC), the UK’s independent advisory body on animal welfare, should be asked to assess the available scientific evidence and provide recommendations on insect welfare. A formal AWC review would offer a robust, science-based foundation for policymaking, ensuring that public concerns are addressed alongside industry development. Protecting welfare goes hand-in-hand with protecting the environment and addressing biosecurity concerns: factors like diseases or genetic modification can not only harm the welfare insects but also threaten local ecosystems if insects escape, or if diseased insects are not properly disposed of. A recent study finds genetic evidence of farmed insects interbreeding with wild insects and states that the “lack of biosecurity measures allowing the release of domesticated flies into the wild poses conservation concerns.”
The Savanta polling indicates that a formal assessment of insect farming by the AWC would have public backing. With overwhelming public support for mandatory safeguards, the UK government has an opportunity to lead on evidence-based regulation that accounts for ethical responsibility in a growing industry.