Silk production: global scale and animal welfare issues

Abstract

Silk production relies on the cocoons of Bombyx mori silkworms, which are killed to obtain the silk thread. The author estimates that between 420 billion and 1 trillion silkworms are killed annually for silk production. While most deaths are caused by diseases and pests, the author argues that campaigns to ban silk or stop its sale at retail locations are plausibly the most promising avenue for animal advocates to reduce silk production. Promoting silk alternatives may also be a promising intervention. The author notes that the scale of silk farming, when compared on a species-neutral basis to interventions to reduce vertebrate farmed animal suffering, could make advocacy on this issue highly cost-effective. – AI-generated abstract