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.