I think it could be beneficial to diversify the arguments by adding a note on the impact on environment and the costs of insect meal—even if the argument on insect sentience is accepted it may be deemed not important (factory farming has a track record of this). Here’s what my colleague Keyvan Mostafavi wrote in addition to the animal welfare arguments:
“One of the main issues with insect meal is its cost. It is currently 2 to 10 times more expensive than conventional feed options like soybean or fish meal (Leipertz et al., 2024; World Bank). Additionally, insect farming was initially promoted as an environmentally friendly solution. However, studies challenge these claims (Thévenot and all, Mealworm meal for animal feed: Environmental assessment and sensitivity analysis to guide future prospects). Insect farms often rely on cereal-based feed, competing with traditional agriculture rather than utilizing food waste as originally intended. This reduces their sustainability benefits and, in some cases, increases their environmental impact. (...)”
Consider adding these to the post if you find them useful.
I think it could be beneficial to diversify the arguments by adding a note on the impact on environment and the costs of insect meal—even if the argument on insect sentience is accepted it may be deemed not important (factory farming has a track record of this). Here’s what my colleague Keyvan Mostafavi wrote in addition to the animal welfare arguments:
“One of the main issues with insect meal is its cost. It is currently 2 to 10 times more expensive than conventional feed options like soybean or fish meal (Leipertz et al., 2024; World Bank). Additionally, insect farming was initially promoted as an environmentally friendly solution. However, studies challenge these claims (Thévenot and all, Mealworm meal for animal feed: Environmental assessment and sensitivity analysis to guide future prospects). Insect farms often rely on cereal-based feed, competing with traditional agriculture rather than utilizing food waste as originally intended. This reduces their sustainability benefits and, in some cases, increases their environmental impact. (...)”
Consider adding these to the post if you find them useful.