Original story from Shenyang Agricultural University (China). Earthworms could become unexpected allies in the global fight against antibiotic resistance by helping farmers turn manure into safer, high-value organic fertilizer through a process called vermicomposting. Researchers report that this low-energy, nature-based technology can remove antibiotic resistance genes far more consistently than conventional composting, while also improving soil health and supporting sustainable agriculture. Antibiotic resistance from farm to table The World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland) has named antimicrobial resistance one of the most serious threats to modern medicine, and livestock production is a major part of the problem. When animals receive antibiotics, resistance genes accumulate in their manure, and if that manure is spread on fields without proper treatment, those genes can move into soil, water, crops and eventually the human gut. Conventional composting helps, but its performance is unstable and in some cases, key resistance markers can even rebound during the composting process. A living bioreactor under our feet Vermicomposting uses earthworms and their associated microbes to transform raw manure into a stable, crumbly product known as vermicast. Under carefully controlled moisture, temperature and nutrient conditions, this mesophilic process not only recycles waste into fertilizer but also achieves multi-pathway reduction of antibiotic resistance genes. Studies summarized in the new review show that vermicomposting can reduce the total abundance of resistance genes by roughly 70–95% and mobile genetic elements by up to 68%, often outperforming traditional compost piles. “Earthworms are not just passive decomposers, they are active engineers of a safer microenvironment,”…
