Insect-Based Livestock Feed

• 24 Jun 2025

Source: TH

Why in News?

India is promoting insect-based livestock feed as a sustainable and climate-friendly alternative to conventional animal feed, aiming to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and reduce the environmental footprint of animal farming.

• It has been initiated by ICAR in partnership with research institutes like Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) & Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.

What is Insect-Based Feed?

• About: Insect-based livestock feed is a protein-rich alternative derived from insects such as black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens), crickets, small mealworms (Alphitobius) and Jamaican field crickets (Gryllus assimilis).
  • It is used in livestock and aquaculture as a sustainable and circular source of nutrition.
• Working Principle: Insects such as black soldier fly larvae rapidly convert agro and food waste into high-protein biomass (up to 75% protein) within 12–15 days, enabling quick and cost-effective feed production.
  • The resulting proteins enhance gut health in animals, reducing the need for antibiotics and helping combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
  • The leftover frass serves as an organic fertiliser, supporting closed-loop, sustainable farming.
• Significance:
  • Nutritional and Economic Value: Insect-based feed is rich in up to 75% protein, along with essential fats, zinc, calcium, iron, and fibre. 
    • It offers better digestibility than soy or fishmeal, while being cost-effective and suitable for large-scale livestock and aquaculture due to lower land, water, and input requirements.
  • Supports Food Security and Fights AMR:  With meat production expected to double by 2050, insect-based feed aligns with FAO’s projection of a 70% rise in global food demand. Its gut-health benefits reduce dependence on antibiotics, helping to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animal farming.
  • Promotes Environmental Sustainability: Insect farming results in lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduces land degradation, and has a smaller environmental footprint compared to conventional feed sources. 
    • It supports climate-smart agriculture and helps conserve natural resources.
  • Drives Circular Economy: Insects are reared on organic waste (e.g., agro and food waste), converting it into high-quality protein and fats. 
    • The leftover frass serves as an organic fertiliser, enabling a closed-loop, zero-waste production model.
  • Global Acceptance and Indian Push: Insect-based feed is already approved in over 40 countries for use in poultry, aquaculture, and livestock. 
    • In India, ICAR and startups like Loopworm and Ultra Nutri India are piloting it for shrimp, seabass, poultry, and cattle, reflecting growing domestic scalability and adoption.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

• About AMR: AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. 
  • This makes antibiotics and other treatments ineffective, leading to infections that are harder to treat, and increasing the risk of severe illness, disability, and death.
• Prevalence of AMR: AMR is among the top global health and development threats. In 2019, bacterial AMR caused 1.27 million deaths and contributed to 4.95 million deaths globally.
  • According to the WHO, AMR may result in an additional USD 1 trillion in healthcare costs by 2050, and cause USD 1–3.4 trillion in annual GDP losses by 2030.
• Common Drug-Resistant Pathogens in India:
  • E. coli (gut infections): Resistance rising; susceptibility to carbapenem dropped from 81.4% (2017) to 62.7% (2023).
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae (pneumonia/UTI): Resistance to two key carbapenems fell from 58.5% to 35.6%, and 48% to 37.6% (2017–2023).
  • Acinetobacter baumannii (hospital infections): Already highly drug-resistant; shows no major change but remains difficult to treat.

  UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQ)  

Prelims

Q. What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? (2020)

1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

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Q. Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? (2019)

1. Genetic predisposition of some people
2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming
4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 
(d) 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (b)

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Q. Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine?(2010)

(a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium
(b) Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection
(c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria
(d) Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host

Ans: (b)