ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2026 57 Silkworm pupae are nutritionally dense and highly bioactive. They contain high quantities of lysine, methionine, phospholipids, and omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids. According to a study published in 2021, silkworm pupae proteins exhibit high digestibility. Their PDCAAS score is 86. Lipids gain extra stability from tocopherol-phospholipid synergy, which preserves feed integrity and enhances omega-3 enrichment in meat and fillets. In aquaculture, performance data is compelling. According to the Aquaculture journal (2019), in Pacific white shrimp, a full fishmeal replacement with defatted silkworm pupae improved growth and antioxidant capacity. Researchers recommended up to 75% substitution to safeguard hepatopancreas health. Rainbow trout thrived on 5 to 15% silkworm inclusion, matching fishmeal growth. As per the studies conducted between 2019 and 2025 on salmonids and crustaceans, bioactive peptides enhanced immunity and slashed disease losses by up to 40% through better pathogen resistance. Livestock sectors report parallel wins. As per studies conducted between 2021 and 2024, broilers fed 4-10% of defatted silkworm pupae showed high growth and high stress resistance. For swine, as researched by animal nutritionists in heat stress models, the balanced amino acids in silkwormssupported liveweight gains and gut health. Furthermore, they comply with EU regulations, reduce emissions, and bolster gut microbiota for stress resilience. FROM CLAIMS TO CREDIBILITY Along with attention comes scrutiny, deservedly. This has made sure that transparency is the baseline. Assurances, claims and vague labels no longer satisfy consumers, regulators and buyers. However, unverified sustainability narratives are still a common theme. When promises exceed proof, trust fractures precisely when the food system can least afford it. The questions confronting animal nutrition and biotechnology have become surgical. What does "antibiotic-free" mean across the entire production cycle? How traceable is each ingredient from origin to feed mill? Where is the evidence for claims about immune function, environmental impact, or contaminant levels? Only rigorous data, reproducible results, and independent validation can provide answers. Documenting performance through controlled trials is a must before making claims at all. NUTRITION AS THE FOUNDATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FUTURE While breakthrough ingredients form a small part of the nutrition story, the other part of the story is about how effectively we embed nutritional strategy into the structural fabric of food systems. Adopting a One Health lens means accepting this responsibility fully. It requires choices grounded in biology, validated through science, and proven at commercial scale. This is not simply an industry priority. It is fundamental to preserving the trust on which global food security depends. About Ankit Alok Bagaria Ankit Alok Bagaria is the CEO & Co-Founder of Loopworm, one of India’s largest insect-biomanufacturing platforms supplying proteins and lipids for aquaculture, poultry, pet, and specialty nutrition. An IIT Roorkee alumnus, he leads business development, R&D, and product strategy, focused on scalable manufacturing and bio-circularity. A Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honouree, he is redefining global biomanufacturing and building a new silk road from India. Photo: Loopworm
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