Fighting antimicrobial resistance with insect-based livestock feed
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper II – Governance, Health, International Relations
GS Paper III – Science and Technology
Context:
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is one of the major global health threats. It occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat.
- Livestock farming contributes significantly to AMR due to the extensive and often unregulated use of antibiotics to boost growth and treat disease.
- Animal husbandry accounts for over 50% of global antibiotic use, and this is projected to rise by 53% (to 200,000 tonnes) by 2030.
- Discharge from livestock farms (via wastewater, soil contamination, etc.) spreads antibiotic-resistant bacteria into surrounding environments.
- Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often lack strict regulations, leading to the use of banned antibiotics like chloramphenicol, tylosin, and TCN, which also affect human health.
Insect-Based Feed as a Sustainable Alternative:
- Insect-based feed is being explored globally as an alternative to conventional protein sources like fishmeal and soybean meal.
- Nutritional Benefits: Insects are rich in digestible proteins, fats, fiber, and micronutrients (zinc, iron, calcium).
- Environmental Benefits:
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions.
- Less land and water use compared to traditional livestock feed.
- Insects can upcycle organic waste into high-quality protein.
- Crickets consume 12x less feed than cattle for the same protein output.
Economic Viability:
- Cost-effective due to:
- Lower production inputs.
- High feed conversion efficiency.
- Better benefit-to-cost ratio compared to fishmeal or soymeal.
Comparative Protein Efficiency:
- For 1 kg protein equivalence:
- 0.85 kg of black soldier flies (66% protein).
- 0.91 kg of locusts/mealworms (60%).
- 930 g of mopane worms (56%).
- For soybean (49%), only 0.74–0.93 kg of insect alternatives needed.
Current Indian Initiatives:
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is leading efforts in research and deployment:
- March 2023: MoU with Ultra Nutri India Pvt. Ltd. – using black soldier fly larvae in aquaculture.
- June 2024: MoU with Loopworm, Bengaluru – for shrimp and Asian seabass feed trials.
- January 2025: MoU with Bhairav Renderers, Coimbatore – expanding research in marine aquaculture.
AMR Mitigation:
- Insect-based feed reduces reliance on non-essential antibiotics in feed.
- Helps in breaking the AMR cycle by:
- Limiting the use of antimicrobial compounds.
- Preventing antibiotic residue build-up in animals and environment.
- Over 40 countries now have regulatory frameworks supporting insect-based feed.
Conclusion:
Insect-based feed offers a climate-smart, economically viable, and health-conscious alternative to conventional livestock feed. It plays a critical role in addressing AMR, one of the most pressing global health threats, while also promoting sustainable agriculture. With initiatives like those by ICAR, India is beginning to leverage its potential. However, widespread policy support, farmer training, and awareness campaigns are essential to scale adoption. Insect feed represents a confluence of food security, environmental conservation, and public health goals, aligning well with the UN SDGs and India’s long-term sustainability agenda.
