Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, focusing on the Indian perspective and highlighting the key points:
**The Hindu: India Turns to Insects to Combat Antibiotic Resistance in Livestock**
**New Delhi, June 23, 2025** – As global concerns mount over the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) linked to animal husbandry, India is increasingly exploring insect-based feed as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional livestock diets. With antibiotic use in animal agriculture projected to surge globally, contributing to the spread of dangerous resistant bacteria, Indian agricultural research institutions are actively fostering the adoption of insect-based feed to mitigate the risks.
The Indian Council of Agriculture (ICAR) has been at the forefront of this initiative, forging partnerships with private companies to research and implement insect-based feed solutions. Notably, ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) is collaborating with Ultra Nutri India, Pvt. Ltd. and Loopworm, a Bengaluru-based manufacturer, to evaluate the effectiveness of insects like black soldier fly larvae in aqua-feed for species like shrimp and Asian seabass.
“Animal husbandry accounts for more than half of all antibiotic use around the world” writes Irfan Shakeer epidemiologist at Clarivate India and Iswarya Lakshmi senior research associate, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru.
The shift toward insect-based feed is driven by the pressing need to address both the environmental impact of traditional livestock production and the growing threat of AMR. The overuse of antibiotics in animal feed, often used to promote growth, contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant genes in bacteria, which can then spread to humans through the environment.
Insect-based feed offers several advantages. It is more sustainable and has a smaller environmental footprint, requiring less land and water, and producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Insects are also nutritious, providing essential proteins, fats, and micronutrients. Some studies suggest insect-based feed can be even more cost-effective because it provides better digestible proteins than fishmeal- or soybean-based feeds.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation predicts food production must increase by 70% by 2050. This increase will have a profound affect on the environment, so research is vital to finding more climate-smart alternatives.
While ICAR is streamlining research and collaboration, experts emphasize the need for wider awareness and adoption of insect-based feed. Given its economic, environmental, and biological benefits, insect-based feed is poised to become a crucial component of India’s efforts to promote sustainable and responsible livestock production and combat the growing global threat of antibiotic resistance.
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