Fighting antimicrobial resistance with insect-based livestock feed

23 Jun 2025 GS 3 Science & Technology
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Environmental and Health Impacts of Traditional Livestock Feed

  • Conventional livestock systems cause:

    • High greenhouse gas emissions

    • Heavy land and water usage

    • Significant risk of fostering Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

  • Animal husbandry accounts for over 50% of global antibiotic use, expected to rise to 200,000 tonnes by 2030 (53% increase from 2013).

Antibiotics and AMR in Livestock

  • Antimicrobials are used not only for disease treatment but also as growth promoters.

  • Antibiotic residues in animal guts impose selective pressure, encouraging bacteria to acquire resistance genes.

  • These bacteria are expelled into soil, water, and drainage, spreading AMR into human systems—especially among agricultural workers.

  • By 2050, AMR-related deaths are projected to rise to 10 million annually, up from 700,000 in 2014.

Antibiotic Practices in LMICs

  • Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) still use banned antibiotics like:

    • Chloramphenicol

    • Tylosin

    • TCN (mixture of oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, neomycin)

  • These compounds are linked to kidney damage, cancers, and aplastic anaemia in humans.

  • Use is largely unregulated in LMICs, driven by intensification of farming and rising demand for animal proteins.

Insect-Based Feed: A Sustainable Alternative

Advantages

  • Lower environmental footprint:

    • Fewer greenhouse gas emissions

    • Minimal land and water use

  • High nutritional value:

    • Rich in proteins, fats, fibres, and micronutrients like zinc, iron, calcium

  • Better feed conversion:

    • Crickets consume 12x less feed than cattle for the same protein output

    • Insects can convert organic waste into high-grade proteins and fats

  • Cost-effective:

    • Higher benefit-to-cost ratio than fishmeal or soy-based feeds

    • Better digestibility of insect proteins

Comparative Protein Efficiency

(1 kg of fishmeal = X grams of insect feed)

  • Crickets (75%) → 0.76 kg

  • Termites/Silkworms (70%) → 0.81 kg

  • Black soldier flies (66%) → 0.85 kg

  • Locusts/Yellow mealworms (60%) → 0.91 kg

  • Mopane worms (56%) → 0.95 kg

(1 kg of soybean meal = X grams of insect feed)

  • Crickets → 0.74 kg

  • Termites/Silkworms → 0.79 kg

  • Black soldier flies → 0.83 kg

  • Locusts/Mealworms → 0.89 kg

  • Mopane worms → 0.93 kg

Insects Approved/Used in Feed

  • Black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens)

  • House flies (Musca domestica)

  • Compost worms (Perionyx excavatus)

  • Grasshoppers / Locusts

  • Mealworms (Alphitobius)

  • House crickets (Acheta domesticus)

  • Tropical crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus)

  • Jamaican field crickets (Gryllus assimilis)

  • 40 countries have issued regulations permitting insect-based feed for animals.

Black soldier fly larvae (used in India) improves aquaculture growth & immunity

Indian Scenario and ICAR’s Role

Institutional Initiatives

  • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is promoting insect-based feeds, especially for aquaculture..

Long-term Goals

  • ICAR is working to streamline R&D and awareness on insect-based feeds.

  • Intended to contribute to climate-smart agriculture and reduce AMR at the system level.

Global Context and Future Outlook

  • FAO (UN) estimates 70% increase in food production is needed by 2050 to meet global demands.

  • Insect-based feed is seen as a viable, scalable, and sustainable solution to:

    • Reduce AMR risks

    • Lower production costs

    • Promote nutritional security

    • Shrink the environmental footprint


MCQS

Q. With reference to the link between livestock farming and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), consider the following statements:

  1. Over 50% of the world’s antibiotic use is attributed to animal husbandry.

  2. AMR in livestock arises mainly from therapeutic use of antibiotics and not from growth promotion practices.

  3. Antibiotic resistance genes in livestock can spread into the environment through waste and increase the risk of human exposure.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: C

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct.

  • Statement 2 is incorrect: AMR also arises from non-therapeutic use like growth promotion, which is widespread.

  • Statement 3 is correct: AMR genes spread via soil, water, and waste.

Q. Consider the following statements regarding insect-based livestock feed:

  1. As of 2025, over 40 countries have issued regulatory approval for the use of insect-based feed in animals.

  2. In India, the regulatory push for insect-based feed is primarily led by the National Biodiversity Authority.

  3. Rearing insects requires more land and water resources compared to conventional livestock like poultry and cattle.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct.

  • Statement 2 is incorrect: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), not NBA, is spearheading initiatives.

  • Statement 3 is incorrect: Insect rearing uses less land and water.

Q. With reference to the efficiency and nutritional profile of insect-based livestock feed, consider the following statements:

  1. Crickets can produce the same amount of protein using twelve times less feed than cattle.

  2. Insect-based feeds offer better digestibility and protein density than fishmeal and soybean meal.

  3. Mealworms and locusts are less protein-dense than mopane worms.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct: Crickets require significantly less feed than cattle.

  • Statement 2 is correct: Insects provide high digestible protein.

  • Statement 3 is incorrect: Mopane worms have lower protein % (56%) than mealworms and locusts (60%).



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