Insects are one of the most numerous and diverse animal groups on Earth. Still, we understand very little about how to measure their welfare. Insects are managed in many contexts that may present welfare concerns: as ‘mini-livestock’ farmed for food and feed, in waste management, as agricultural pests or invasive species, in research and educational settings, for medical purposes, as targets of conservation actions, and more. Scientific research is urgently needed to understand how to factor the welfare needs of individual insects into policy and practice. 

The Insect Welfare Research Society is an academic-led research society founded in March 2023. The society aims to support 1) the global insect welfare research community and 2) the incorporation of evidence-based information on insect welfare into policy and practice by relevant stakeholders. We also support welfare research on understudied terrestrial arthropods that are not insects (e.g., spiders and other arachnids, myriapods like millipedes, etc.) and on understudied aquatic invertebrates (e.g., shrimp/prawns, horseshoe crabs, etc.).

Support for founding the IWRS was provided by Open Philanthropy. The IWRS’s is a 501(c)3 nonprofit incorporated in the State of Delaware. Our EIN is 93-3393218. All work is independently conducted by the IWRS.