Why in NEWS

India is encouraging the use of insect-based feed in livestock and aquaculture to promote sustainability, improve animal gut health, and combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The initiative is spearheaded by ICAR in partnership with key research institutions.

Key Concepts & Definitions

Term	Explanation
Insect-Based Feed	Protein-rich feed made from insects like black soldier flies, crickets
Black Soldier Fly (BSF)	Insect that converts food/agro waste into high-protein biomass
Frass	Leftover insect waste used as organic fertiliser
AMR	Antimicrobial Resistance—when microbes become resistant to treatment
Circular Economy	A zero-waste production model using recycled inputs

What is Insect-Based Feed?

Feature	Details
Source Insects	Black soldier flies, mealworms, crickets, Jamaican field crickets
Working Mechanism	Insects convert agro/food waste into protein biomass within 12–15 days
Protein Content	Up to 75% protein, rich in essential nutrients like zinc, iron, calcium
Additional Benefits	Enhances gut health, reducing the need for antibiotics in animals
By-product Utility	Frass is used as fertiliser, enabling sustainable, closed-loop farming

Significance of Insect-Based Feed

Area	Importance
Nutritional Value	High protein, essential fats, minerals; better digestibility than soy/fishmeal
Cost & Scalability	Lower land, water, and input requirements; suitable for mass adoption
Food Security	Supports rising demand for meat; aligns with FAO projections (2050)
AMR Reduction	Gut health benefits reduce antibiotic use, limiting AMR risk
Environmental Sustainability	Low GHG emissions, land conservation, climate-friendly alternative
Circular Economy	Organic waste converted into feed and fertiliser with zero waste

India’s Push and Global Trends

Country Scope	Status
Global	40+ countries have approved insect-based feed for poultry, livestock, fish
India	Pilots by ICAR, CIBA, CMFRI; startups like Loopworm, Ultra Nutri active
Target Animals	Shrimp, seabass, poultry, and cattle

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

Feature	Details
Definition	Microorganisms no longer respond to antibiotics or other antimicrobial drugs
Global Impact	Caused 1.27 million deaths and contributed to 4.95 million in 2019 alone
Economic Cost	Could cause USD 1–3.4 trillion GDP loss by 2030 and USD 1 trillion healthcare cost by 2050
India’s Situation	Growing resistance seen in E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii

In a nutshell

Memory Code: “FEED: Fight Emissions, Enhance Efficiency, Defeat Drug Resistance”

• Fight emissions through sustainable feed
• Enhance animal health and digestion
• Efficient conversion of waste to protein
• Defeat AMR with reduced antibiotic usage

Prelims Practice Questions

1. Which of the following insects is commonly used for insect-based livestock feed?
   A. Honeybee
   B. Silkworm
   C. Black soldier fly
   D. Dragonfly
2. What is the key advantage of insect-based feed in the context of antimicrobial resistance?
   A. Enhances animal muscle mass
   B. Increases antibiotic absorption
   C. Improves gut health, reducing antibiotic use
   D. Promotes faster reproduction in livestock
3. What is ‘frass’ in the context of insect farming?
   A. Processed insect feed
   B. Wastewater from aquaculture
   C. Insect by-product used as fertiliser
   D. A disease caused by flies in livestock

Mains Practice Questions

1. Discuss how insect-based livestock feed can contribute to sustainable agriculture and fight antimicrobial resistance in India. (10 marks)
2. Examine the challenges and prospects of scaling up insect-based feed as part of India’s climate-smart agricultural practices. (15 marks)

Prelims Answers Table

Q No.	Answer	Explanation
1	C	Black soldier fly is a key insect used to produce protein-rich feed
2	C	Gut-health benefits reduce the need for antibiotics, helping fight AMR
3	C	Frass is the leftover insect waste used as organic fertiliser