Kerala is set to become the first Indian state to designate an official “state bacterium” to raise awareness about beneficial microbes. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the name of the bacterium on January 23 during the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM). The centre will develop microbiome-based products, including probiotic foods and other industry applications.
Currently housed at the KINFRA Film & Video Park in Thiruvananthapuram, CoEM will eventually move to the Bio 360 Life Science Park at Thonnakkal. The initiative aims to shift public perception of microbes from being seen only as disease-causing agents to recognizing their vital roles in agriculture, health, the environment, and aquatic life.
“The state has selected the bacterium through an expert committee under the State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. The main goal is to conserve multiple beneficial bacteria, with the state bacterium serving as a representative,” said Sabu Thomas, director of CoEM.
The move highlights the growing significance of microbiome research and microbial fermentation in India. The country already has a national microbe, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, used in yogurt production. The microbial fermentation technology market in India is valued at around $4.47 billion and is projected to exceed $8 billion by 2030, spanning applications in antibiotics, vaccines, enzymes, biopesticides, biofertilisers, and probiotics.
CoEM will focus on interdisciplinary research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration, mapping microbiome data using big data and AI to support product development and startups. The centre was established under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, in partnership with the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council and scientific guidance from the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology.
