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The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Fighting antimicrobial resistance with insect-based livestock feed
Traditional livestock production systems have severe environmental consequences, including high greenhouse gas emissions, extensive land and water use, and risk of fostering antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Together with the steadily rising demand for nutrition, global and regional food systems have been exploring alternative ways to sustainably maintain their supply chains. Insect-based feed has emerged as one promising candidate. The Indian Council of Agriculture (ICAR) and its affiliated centres have already been strengthening the adoption of insect-based feeds in the country. In March 2023, the ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) signed an MoU with Ultra Nutri India, Pvt. Ltd. to explore the possibility of using insect-based feed in aquaculture. The aim was to use black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae as an ingredient in aqua-feed to improve growth and immunity. In June 2024, CIBA and Loopworm, a Bengaluru-based manufacturer of insect-based proteins and fats, inked another MoU to evaluate the use of insect-based feed products in shrimp and Asian seabass. In January 2025, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute confirmed a formal MoU with Coimbatore-based Bhairav Renderers. AMR and livestock production Animal husbandry accounts for more than half of all antibiotic use around the world and is expected to increase to 200,000 tonnes by 2030, up 53% from 2013. Over the last 70 years, antimicrobial compounds have been becoming embedded in livestock feed. They are used to treat diseases as well as to boost growth, in turn raising productivity. The excessive or inappropriate use of antibiotics in this regard can lead to AMR, which endangers public health. Traces of antibiotics left behind in the intestinal environments of livestock impose selective pressure for bacteria in the gut to acquire and maintain antibiotic resistance genes. These genes replicate when they are expelled into the surrounding environment, such as soil or water, increasing the possibility of human exposure, especially for those who work in agriculture. It has been projected that the number of deaths worldwide from antibiotic-resistant infections will increase from 700,000 a year in 2014 to 10 million by 2050. The increasing demand for proteins of animal origin has in turn increased the costs of production and has encouraged farming practices to intensify. Ultimately, farmers are forced to use non-essential antibiotics to boost growth. The use of such antibiotics remains mostly unregulated in many countries, especially in LMICs. The type and frequency of antibiotic-based animal feed consumption differs across continents and depends highly on socioeconomic conditions, regional demand and production, farming systems, and the national legislative framework. Some common antibiotics in use as feedstock in LMICs are chloramphenicol, tylosin, and TCN (a powdered mixture of oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, and neomycin); developed countries have banned their use. In humans, over-exposure to these drugs can eventually increase the risk of kidney disease, cancers, and aplastic anaemia. These realities prompted researchers to explore the use of insect-based feed to keep AMR at bay. As of today, 40 countries have accepted and issued regulations to use insect-based feed for animals. Examples of such insects include black soldier flies, house flies (Musca domestica), compost worm (Perionyx excavatus), grasshoppers (Locusts), small mealworms (Alphitobius), house crickets (Acheta localus), tropical crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), and Jamaican field crickets (Gryllus assimilis). Pros of insect-based livestock feed Insects are nutritious and are healthy additions to human and animal diet. They are good sources of fats, proteins, fibres, and micronutrients like zinc, calcium, and iron. In their natural habitat, both aquatic and terrestrial animals eat insects. Rearing insects emits less greenhouse gases than rearing other sources of animal protein. In most cases, insects are raised on organic waste because they can quickly transform low-grade waste into high-grade crude proteins, fats, and energy. For example, to generate the same quantity of proteins, crickets consume 12-times less feed than cattle. Rearing insects also requires fewer resources, especially land and water, compared to other livestock production enterprises. Insect-based livestock feed is also an attractive option because of its lower overall cost and the ease with which producing it can be made a sustainable activity. In other words, such feed has a better benefit-to-cost ratio in terms of production cost. In fact, some studies have shown that the use of insect-based feed can be even more cost-effective because it provides better digestible proteins than fishmeal- or soybean-based feeds. For example, per one estimate, one kilogram of fish meal can be replaced with 0.76 g of crickets (75% crude proteins), 0.81 g of termites or silkworms (70%), 0.85 g of black soldier flies (66%), 0.91 g of locusts or yellow mealworms (60%), and 950 g of mopane worms (56%). Similarly, one kilogram of soybean meal (49% crude proteins) can be replaced with 0.74 g, 0.79 g, 0.83 g, 0.89 g, and 930 g of the same insect species, respectively. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated that food production will have to be increased by 70% by 2050 (with meat production expected to double) to meet the world's demand. Unregulated and excessive use of non-essential antibiotics increases the risk of environmental antibiotic-resistant genes in livestock farms. Research has outlined the potential for insect-based feed to become a climate-smart alternative to conventional feed because of its ability to shrink the environmental footprint of livestock farming. At the macroscopic level, the ICAR is still streamlining research and collaboration on insect-based feeds; all the same, efforts should be made at the system's periphery to raise awareness. Given its advantages for the environment, biology, and economy, insect-based feed stands to be a crucial component of livestock production. Irfan Shakeer is an epidemiologist at Clarivate India. Iswarya Lakshmi is senior research associate, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru.
CBC
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is a day to highlight local shops
Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (CIBD) is on Saturday, April 26. The annual event brings together readers, writers, illustrators and publishers to celebrate the more than 200 independent bookstores in Canada. Stores will host events such as author readings, scavenger hunts, contests and prize giveaways to engage more readers. The CBC Poetry Prize is open from April 1 to June 1 On the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA) site, there is a map highlighting local bookstores for Canadians to visit. "Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is a joyful celebration of readers, reading, and local bookstores," said Laura Carter, executive director of CIBA, in a press statement. "What better way to spend a Saturday than in a bustling bookstore, surrounded by your community, sharing the love of books and the connections they create?" This year, the CIBA commissioned artwork from Canadian artist and illustrator Josée Bisaillon to help celebrate CIBD 2025. The CIBA has also organized a contest. For every book purchased on April 26 at an indie bookstore — in person, by phone or online — the buyer will be entered into a national draw to win one of several prizes.
The Province
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Dogs, cats and books: 5 Vancouver shops to check out for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day
The Canadian Independent Booksellers Association is again celebrating the joys of the neighbourhood bookstore on April 26 with a day of contests, giveaways, and in-store events. Companion Books in Burnaby Heights in Burnaby. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. If your idea of a perfect weekend afternoon is a visit to a bookstore, the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA) wants you to know you're not alone. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The CIBA is again celebrating the joys of the neighbourhood book nook by inviting readers to visit their local bookseller on April 26 for a day of contests, giveaways, and in-store events. And, with the ongoing political tumult, what better way to show your support of Canadian small businesses and culture than buying a CanLit classic by Margaret Atwood or Michael Ondaatje or a new title like Mark Bourrie's Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre or Vancouver author Sam Wiebe's 2024 crime novel Ocean Drive? If you're lucky, you may even meet a new four-legged friend. Here are five bookstores to check out in the Lower Mainland. The Paper Hound Bookshop Where: 344 West Pender St., Vancouver Info: Now in its 12th year, The Paper Hound is like an old curiosity shoppe without the mustiness. Co-owners Koch and Rob Clarke are not above dealing in eclectic books for eclectic books' sake, such as a copy of a manual from 1915 called Drake's Telephone Handbook. As noted on their website: 'We don't specialize in one particular kind of book, but we favour the classic, curious, odd, beautiful, visually arresting, scholarly, bizarre, and whimsical.' Dog or cat? Sometimes — Shelly, a purebred moyen poodle who, according to Koch, 'only works very sporadic shifts.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Where: 2671 East Hastings St., Vancouver Info: After starting out with a mobile book truck, Iron Dog Books opened a store in 2019. Iron Dog Books has since become a community hub in Hastings Sunrise, often hosting events such as poetry readings and book launches. Along with new and used books, the store sells miscellanea such as puzzles, tarot cards, socks and more. Information on an in-store pet unavailable at press time. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Where: 4094 Hastings St., Burnaby Info: Companion has been serving the needs of Burnaby Heights readers for over 15 years. Along with a brisk trade in new and used, Companion also deals in rare editions and handles estate sales. It's small without being cramped and sells puzzles and other knick-knacks as well. Its website carries such glowing testimonials as 'really good selection and the store is clean and well maintained' and 'friendly knowledgeable staff. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Where: 2132-2850 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam Info: Dianne Ganz and Tamara Gorin opened Western Sky Books in 2018. In a strip mall next to a Safeway, Western Sky is the only used bookstore in the Tri-Cities area. Ganz and Gorin highlight work by Indigenous and local writers and the store has a large kids' books section. A gallery space exhibits work by local visual artists and sells giftware by local artists and artisans. Regular events include Words in the Burbs, a reading series hosted by local writers Lynn Easton and Christina Myers. For CIBA, the store is planning a sale, giveaways and a workshop with a local artist. Dog or cat: no, due to concerns re: customer allergies. But the store raises money for Katie's Place Animal Shelter in Maple Ridge. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Where: 125 West 1st Street, North Vancouver Info: According to Helicon's website, the name of this Lower Lonsdale store comes from Mount Helicon, home of the Nine Muses of Greek mythology. Shop owners Matt Sturrock and Lizzie Lee are 'career booksellers' who both worked at London's Daunt Books and wanted to bring some of that store's 'superbness' to their own inventory on the North Shore. Their selection of new books includes 'wide yet carefully curated selections of literary fiction, short stories, poetry, essay collections, history books, travel and nature writing, belles-lettres, and coffee-table tomes.' For Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, they're holding one of their regular shop parties, with Prosecco in the afternoon and free tote bags with any purchase over $50. Dog or cat? 'I wish we did,' Lee told us. 'An in-store dog one day, but not right now, unfortunately.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For more info on CIBA visit Read More Vancouver Whitecaps News Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Homes
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dogs, cats and books: 5 Vancouver shops to check out for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day
If your idea of a perfect weekend afternoon is a visit to a bookstore, the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA) wants you to know you're not alone. The CIBA is again celebrating the joys of the neighbourhood book nook by inviting readers to visit their local bookseller on April 26 for a day of contests, giveaways, and in-store events. And, with the ongoing political tumult, what better way to show your support of Canadian small businesses and culture than buying a CanLit classic by Margaret Atwood or Michael Ondaatje or a new title like Mark Bourrie's Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre or Vancouver author Sam Wiebe's 2024 crime novel Ocean Drive? If you're lucky, you may even meet a new four-legged friend. Here are five bookstores to check out in the Lower Mainland. Where: 344 West Pender St., Vancouver Info: Now in its 12th year, The Paper Hound is like an old curiosity shoppe without the mustiness. Co-owners Koch and Rob Clarke are not above dealing in eclectic books for eclectic books' sake, such as a copy of a manual from 1915 called Drake's Telephone Handbook. As noted on their website: 'We don't specialize in one particular kind of book, but we favour the classic, curious, odd, beautiful, visually arresting, scholarly, bizarre, and whimsical.' Dog or cat? Sometimes — Shelly, a purebred moyen poodle who, according to Koch, 'only works very sporadic shifts.' Where: 2671 East Hastings St., Vancouver Info: After starting out with a mobile book truck, Iron Dog Books opened a store in 2019. Iron Dog Books has since become a community hub in Hastings Sunrise, often hosting events such as poetry readings and book launches. Along with new and used books, the store sells miscellanea such as puzzles, tarot cards, socks and more. Information on an in-store pet unavailable at press time. Where: 4094 Hastings St., Burnaby Info: Companion has been serving the needs of Burnaby Heights readers for over 15 years. Along with a brisk trade in new and used, Companion also deals in rare editions and handles estate sales. It's small without being cramped and sells puzzles and other knick-knacks as well. Its website carries such glowing testimonials as 'really good selection and the store is clean and well maintained' and 'friendly knowledgeable staff. Where: 2132-2850 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam Info: Dianne Ganz and Tamara Gorin opened Western Sky Books in 2018. In a strip mall next to a Safeway, Western Sky is the only used bookstore in the Tri-Cities area. Ganz and Gorin highlight work by Indigenous and local writers and the store has a large kids' books section. A gallery space exhibits work by local visual artists and sells giftware by local artists and artisans. Regular events include Words in the Burbs, a reading series hosted by local writers Lynn Easton and Christina Myers. For CIBA, the store is planning a sale, giveaways and a workshop with a local artist. Dog or cat: no, due to concerns re: customer allergies. But the store raises money for Katie's Place Animal Shelter in Maple Ridge. Where: 125 West 1st Street, North Vancouver Info: According to Helicon's website, the name of this Lower Lonsdale store comes from Mount Helicon, home of the Nine Muses of Greek mythology. Shop owners Matt Sturrock and Lizzie Lee are 'career booksellers' who both worked at London's Daunt Books and wanted to bring some of that store's 'superbness' to their own inventory on the North Shore. Their selection of new books includes 'wide yet carefully curated selections of literary fiction, short stories, poetry, essay collections, history books, travel and nature writing, belles-lettres, and coffee-table tomes.' For Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, they're holding one of their regular shop parties, with Prosecco in the afternoon and free tote bags with any purchase over $50. Dog or cat? 'I wish we did,' Lee told us. 'An in-store dog one day, but not right now, unfortunately.' For more info on CIBA visit Popular Vancouver museum launches monthly pay-what-you-can day Vancouver's Titmouse studio celebrates 25 years of animation
Vancouver Sun
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Dogs, cats and books: 5 Vancouver shops to check out for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day
Article content If your idea of a perfect weekend afternoon is a visit to a bookstore, the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA) wants you to know you're not alone. Article content The CIBA is again celebrating the joys of the neighbourhood book nook by inviting readers to visit their local bookseller on April 26 for a day of contests, giveaways, and in-store events. Article content And, with the ongoing political tumult, what better way to show your support of Canadian small businesses and culture than buying a CanLit classic by Margaret Atwood or Michael Ondaatje or a new title like Mark Bourrie's Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre or Vancouver author Sam Wiebe's 2024 crime novel Ocean Drive? If you're lucky, you may even meet a new four-legged friend. Article content View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Paper Hound (@thepaperhound) Article content Article content Article content View this post on Instagram A post shared by Iron Dog Books (@irondogbooks)
