Archive · 29 Jan 2026
Kerala to Become First State with State Bacteria
Kerala is going to be the first state in India to have a special bacteria called Bacillus subtilis.
This bacteria is very good for us and helps in farming, health, and the environment.
The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, announced this on January 23.
There is a new center called the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM) that will study and make products using these good bacteria.
The idea is to teach people that not all bacteria are bad; some are very helpful.
India already has a national bacteria called Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which is used to make yogurt.
The market for products made using bacteria is very big in India and is growing fast.
Kerala will be the first state in India to have an official state bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on January 23.
The Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM) will focus on developing microbiome-based products, including food and probiotics, and is temporarily located at KINFRA Film & Video Park, Kazhakoottam, Thiruvananthapuram.
The initiative aims to change the public perception of microbes, highlighting their beneficial roles in agriculture, health, and the environment.
India's national microbe is Lactobacillus bulgaricus, used in yogurt production, and the microbial fermentation technology market in India is valued at $4.47 billion, projected to exceed $8 billion by 2030.
CoEM will coordinate research, entrepreneurship, and product development, utilizing big data and artificial intelligence to create a microbiome database and generate startups.
- Who
- Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Sabu Thomas (Director, CoEM)
- What
- Kerala to become the first state in India to have a state bacteria, Bacillus subtilis
- When
- Announced on January 23
- Where
- Kerala, India
- Why
- To create awareness about beneficial microbes and their applications in agriculture, health, and the environment
- State Bacteria
- Bacillus subtilis
- Announcement Date
- January 23
- Location of CoEM
- KINFRA Film & Video Park, Kazhakoottam, Thiruvananthapuram (temporary); Bio 360 Life Science Park, Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram (permanent)
- Motto of CoEM
- Microbes for Life
- National Microbe of India
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus
- Microbial Fermentation Market Value in India
- $4.47 billion (projected to exceed $8 billion by 2030)