Barrett featured in GeneseoScene

Can insects feel pain? Two alums explore that possibility and what it means for insect welfare.

Barrett and Dr. Bob Fischer, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Texas State University, are featured in this article by the GeneseoScene. Barrett and Fischer are both SUNY Geneseo alums (‘16 and ‘04, respectively), but didn’t cross paths until 2021 when they began to collaborate on the ethics of insect use.

The GeneseoScene article explores their career trajectories and scholarship on the plausibility and moral implications of insect pain and sentience. The article also highlights Barrett’s special interest in the insects as food and feed industry:

Barrett is particularly interested in farmed insects, where welfare improvements may be economically beneficial and help mitigate risks. “In the next five to ten years, the insect food and feed industry is going to grow very rapidly,” she says. “Any recommendations I can give now will support the industry in its commitment to ethical practices. It doesn’t have to be a burdensome task, and can even be beneficial, to address welfare while we wait for more evidence on the sentience question.”

Barrett’s scholarship on the intersection of farmed insect welfare and economic growth/risk mitigation for the IAFF industry can be further explored in this publication with Dr. Sarah Adcock.