Frequently Asked Questions

Producers

  • Currently, Responsibly Raised Insects offers standards for black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens), yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), and crickets (Acheta domesticus, Gryllus assimilis, and Gryllodes sigillatus). Producers must farm at least one of those species to become certified at this time. If a producer farms other species as well, they may also become Responsibly Raised Insects certified.

    EXAMPLE 1: A producer farms black soldier flies, dubia roaches, and wax worms. The producer can receive certification for black soldier fly production, but not for the other species. Products containing only black soldier fly as the insect-derived ingredient can be labeled as Responsibly Raised Insects certified.

    EXAMPLE 2: A producer farms black soldier flies and yellow mealworms. The producer can become certified for both species in the same audit series. All of the producer’s products can be labeled as certified, so long as those products do not contain insect-derived ingredients from non-certified, alternative sources.

  • No. A producer raising multiple species of insects may seek certification for one or more of those species. However, all insects of a certified species at a certified operation must be raised in accordance with the relevant standards. A producer may not maintain a “split” operation for a single species (e.g., it may not raise some black soldier flies to Responsibly Raised Insects’ standards and other black soldier flies under different conditions within the same operation).

  • Responsibly Raised Insects is based in the United States. At this time, we are prepared to welcome producer partners from North America, the United Kingdom, and EU-member countries into our pilot program. If you are located outside of one of these areas and are interested in becoming certified, we recommend that you get in touch.

  • Our pilot program runs free of charge to participating producers. Pilot program partners and the brands who sell their products receive Responsibly Raised Insects’ services free of charge for the duration of their certification. The post-pilot certification program will include application and audit costs to become certified.

  • Our standards address six major welfare domains for each species we certify: health and disease prevention, nutrition and feeding, environment and housing, handling, slaughter and depopulation, and live transport. Standards are organized into three Tiers, and each domain includes tier-specific requirements. Learn more about our standards for black soldier flies, yellow mealworms, or crickets.

  • During the pilot period, participation begins with a conversation between your team and ours. Prospective pilot participants execute a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Responsibly Raised Insects before submitting a formal application. We recommend reviewing the relevant species-specific standards before applying so that you can identify which tier is the best fit for your operation. We also recommend that you check out our Producers page or pilot program manual to learn more.

  • Responsibly Raised Insects will assess an operation’s compliance with RRI’s standards through on-farm audits. An Inspector will visit your operation to assess compliance. See our pilot policy manual for more information.

  • No. Responsibly Raised Insects is a welfare certification program. It is independent of organic, non-GMO, food safety, and environmental certifications. Some certified producers may also hold those certifications, but Responsibly Raised Insects does not require or assess them.

Brands & Retailers

  • If you source insect-derived ingredients from a Responsibly Raised Insects certified producer, you may be eligible to use the Responsibly Raised Insects certification mark on your packaging and marketing materials. Downstream entities that wish to use the mark must enter into a separate agreement with Responsibly Raised Insects and must be able to demonstrate an unbroken chain of custody from the certified operation to the finished product. Visit our Brands and Retailers page or get in touch to start a conversation.

  • Responsibly Raised Insects works with retailers who want to carry certified insect-based products. If you are interested in sourcing from Responsibly Raised Insects certified producers or stocking products from certified brands, we would love to hear from you. We can help connect you with certified partners and discuss how the Responsibly Raised Insects mark can be used in your stores, on your website, and in your marketing. Visit our Brands and Retailers page or get in touch to start a conversation.

  • Responsibly Raised Insects’ certification mark applies only to products whose insect-derived ingredients come exclusively from certified sources. If a product contains insect-derived ingredients from both certified and uncertified sources, it may not carry the mark. Each product must be evaluated individually based on its ingredient sourcing.

General

  • Our standards are science-based and species-specific. Each set of standards is developed through a review of the available scientific literature on the welfare-relevant biology, physiology, and behavior of the species in question. Standards are also informed by stakeholder feedback, including input from producers and industry experts. As our standards evolve, we intend to consult with stakeholders and to review all standards with our Scientific Advisory Committee.

  • Responsibly Raised Insects may expand the scope of the program to include additional species. If you farm a species not currently covered by our program and are interested in certification, we encourage you to get in touch.

  • A growing body of scientific research suggests that, just like other animals, insects may be capable of experiencing stress, discomfort, and pain. The scientific study of insect welfare is a young but rapidly growing field, and the broader scientific community has increasingly recognized that the possibility of insect sentience should be taken seriously. At the same time, the insect farming industry is scaling quickly. We believe this is the right moment to build welfare into insect agriculture. Welfare research is already producing actionable findings that can be adopted by producers today.

    Encouragingly, much of what the research tells us about reducing stress and supporting insect health aligns with what producers already care about: resilient colonies, consistent production, and high-quality products. Responsibly Raised Insects exists to bridge the gap between the science and the production floor, and to recognize the producers who are paving a responsible path forward. Our standards translate the best available research into practical, species-specific requirements that producers can implement at commercial scale, and our tiered program is designed so that producers can enter at the level that best suits their needs.

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