Bacteriophages are an emerging crop input and animal feed solution to growing antibiotic regulations, as many regions seek to control agricultural antibiotics, for human safety, and to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

New Food Finance tracks trends and investments in foodtech and agtech companies which are reducing the environmental impact of food production, from alternative proteins to precision ag.

Phages are viruses which attack bacteria in a highly targeted way, potentially also causing less environmental damage compared with antibiotics or chemicals.

They can be effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains, for example by penetrating biofilms that otherwise protect pathogens from conventional chemicals and antibiotics.

We tag agricultural phages according to two general uses, for biological pesticides, and animal feed. Standout companies include:

OmniLytics – Produces bacteriophages for crop pest control. The company says that its phages see low bacterial resistance, and do not harm the soil microbiome. Their phages are one of the few examples of registered bactericides in the United States. Their products can be mixed with insecticides and fungicides to treat a range of crop diseases. For example, cocktails used to control Xanthomonas campestris, were found to reduce citrus canker disease severity by 59%, in greenhouse experiments.

Proteon Pharmaceuticals – Provides phage-based solutions to improve livestock health, primarily in poultry, aquaculture, and cattle. Its products, such as BAFASAL® and BAFADOR®, are designed as bacteriophage feed additives, to combat specific pathogens such as Salmonella and Aeromonas. The company says it tested safety for mammalian cells, finding that phages were safe for poultry, and avoided adverse environmental impacts.

We see the state of play on antibiotic regulation, a key driver in the use of phages, as follows:

• European Union: The EU has enacted regulations (eg Regulation 2019/6) to prohibit the use of antibiotics for routine disease prevention in healthy animals.

• The United States: The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), Implemented by the FDA, restricts the use of medically important antibiotics in animal feed and water, aiming to curb routine use, and require veterinary supervision.

• The United Kingdom: The UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has established reduction targets for antibiotics in livestock, aiming to promote disease prevention, vaccination, and antibiotic alternatives.

• China: Implemented a Ban on Antibiotic Growth Promoters in animal feed in 2020.

• Global Efforts: The World Health Organization encourages policies that reduce the misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals, promoting alternatives, under its Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) encourages the development of alternatives to support global food security and public health.