National AMR context

Malaysia is facing a growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquaculture, particularly in shrimp farming, where antibiotics are widely used to manage disease outbreaks such as Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND). Poor water quality and limited access to preventive tools have led to heavy reliance on antimicrobials, with over 67 antibiotic types reportedly used across the sector. In response, Malaysia has adopted the Malaysian Action Plan on AMR (MyAP-AMR), aligned with FAO, WOAH and WHO guidelines under a One Health framework. While the policy provides a strong foundation, implementation remains inconsistent, especially among smallholder farms where awareness and regulations are limited. This project directly supports MyAP-AMR by introducing a synbiotic feed enhancer and an IoT-based monitoring system to reduce antibiotic dependence, improve disease resilience, and promote sustainable aquaculture practices in LMICs.  

Problem

Shrimp aquaculture in LMICs is increasingly vulnerable to disease outbreaks, AMR accumulation, and climate-induced stressors. Farmers often rely on antibiotics as a short-term, low-cost solution due to limited access to effective alternatives. AHPND alone causes billions in losses across Southeast Asia. Poor regulation, environmental contamination, and lack of effective immunostimulants exacerbate the problem. There is an urgent need for scalable, farmer-friendly solutions that reduce antibiotic use while improving productivity and resilience. 

Project overview

This project introduces SynbIoT, a dual innovation combining a synbiotic feed enhancer with an IoT-based farm monitoring system. The synbiotic component integrates probiotics and prebiotics to improve shrimp immunity and gut health, while the IoT system provides real-time data on water quality and shrimp behavior. Together, this innovation offers a sustainable, scalable solution for smallholder farms. The project includes lab validation, field trials, stakeholder engagement, and policy alignment to support adoption and scale-up. 

Solutions and outcomes

SynbIoT aims to reduce antibiotic use by strengthening shrimp health and enabling data-driven farm management. Expected outcomes include improved survival rates, reduced pathogen load, enhanced feed efficiency, and early outbreak detection. The project will generate baseline AMR data, validate the technology under industrial conditions, and assess cost-effectiveness. It will also produce policy recommendations and capacity-building tools to support long-term adoption in LMICs, contributing to global AMR mitigation and climate resilience goals.