EFRO subsidy granted for 'bacteriophage alternatives to antibiotics in livestock' project with WUR and Nutreco

Phageguard (Micreos Food Safety B.V.) has been granted a European (EFRO) subsidy to develop alternatives to antibiotics in animal health, focusing on reducing the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria using bacteriophage (phage) in animal feed. The initiative, titled European Subsidy to Develop Alternatives to Antibiotics in Animal Health, brings together Wageningen University (WUR) and three Dutch companies, including Nutreco, as key collaborators to drive innovation and practical solutions to address the modern challenges of pathogen control in livestock.

Finding an answer to antibiotic- and multidrug resistant bacteria

The growing emergence of antibiotic- and multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli, in livestock demands innovative strategies to control and prevent contamination during postharvest processing and in final products destined for human consumption. However, addressing and preventing further development of resistance within livestock presents a significant challenge for animal agriculture. Besides the need for identifying  alongside comprehensive safety measures like enhanced biosecurity, water quality monitoring on farms, and environmental barn hygiene.

Phageguard, in collaboration with Wageningen University and three leading animal feed companies, including Nutreco, is embarking on a European-subsidized project to advance phage technology in livestock. This initiative, supported by EFRO funding, will involve both field and laboratory studies to explore the industrial application in animal feed and evaluating phage efficacy against resistant bacteria, such as Salmonella, to address the concerns for food safety and bacterial resistance.



Phage-based technologies offer a promising alternative for combating bacterial infections, particularly in the context of antibiotic and multidrug resistance. Unlike antibiotics, which indiscriminately target both harmful and beneficial bacteria, these technologies selectively target specific bacterial species, including foodborne pathogens of concern in livestock and postharvest contamination. Bacteriophages, naturally occurring in high concentrations on human skin and throughout the environment, are inherently safe for humans, animals, and plants. Their precision and safety profile position them as an effective solution to complement or replace traditional antimicrobials in managing bacterial resistance.

Mark Offerhaus, CEO of Micreos Group, explains: "The excessive use of antibiotics in livestock threatens the long-term efficacy of antibiotics for human use. Antibiotics neutralize bacteria indiscriminately, which accelerates the development of resistance. Phage technology provides a viable alternative that can selectively address bacterial issues in animal health and feed, reducing mortality and disease among livestock while preserving essential microbial balance."

Phage technology is applied across various sectors, including food processing to enhance food safety. In the context of livestock, this approach can:

• Reduce the reliance on antibiotics in animal husbandry.

• Contribute to the global effort to combat anitbiotic, antimicrobial, and multidrug resistance of zoonotic bacteria like Salmonella.

• Maintain the natural microbial balance in animals, supporting their overall health.
  
  

Collaborating on sustainable progress to address modern livestock challenges

The EFRO subsidy supports Phageguard and its partners in advancing research and to identify commercial application of these solutions. Combining Phageguard's expertise in phage application with Wageningen University (WUR) offers scientific research on efficacy, the project also leverages the industry knowledge Nutreco, a global leader in animal feed production. This collaboration provides critical insights and practical guidance to identify applications suitable for industrial use. Together, these efforts aim to lay the foundation for a commercialized phage innovations to address the growing challenge of bacterial resistance, such as Salmonella, in livestock.