Kerala to Declare State Microbe; First State in India to Make Such an Announcement

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is preparing to declare its own official State Microbe, following the tradition of designating a state animal, bird, tree, fruit, and flower. Kerala will be the first state in India to grant state-level recognition to microorganisms, which profoundly influence human life and the environment. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will announce the State Microbe on January 23 at an event held at the Centre for Excellence in Microbiome at Kinfra, Kazhakkoottam, Thiruvananthapuram.

This initiative is part of efforts to raise awareness about the indispensable role microorganisms play in various sectors such as human and animal health, agriculture, industry, and environmental protection. Kerala is preparing to declare a State Microbe with the objectives of fostering scientific temper in society, promoting research on microorganisms, encouraging sustainable and nature-based solutions, conserving microbial diversity, and attracting more young people into the life sciences field.

Microorganisms, often viewed by the public solely as disease-causing agents, play beneficial roles in areas such as digestion, immunity, soil health, improved crop yields, and ecological balance. Dr. Sabu Thomas, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome, proposed the idea of a State Microbe with the aim of creating a public platform to discuss the myriad benefits microorganisms provide in daily life. His proposal suggests that this initiative will help acknowledge the importance of microorganisms in health and environmental sectors and promote their conservation.

Accepting this proposal, the state government formed an expert committee chaired by the Executive Vice President of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. This committee, comprising clinicians, scientists, professors, and representatives from the State Biodiversity Board, selected the State Microbe. The chosen microorganism is non-pathogenic, reported from Kerala, applicable in various fields, economically valuable, and has GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status. This bacterium is beneficial across human, animal, water, plant, and environmental sectors.

Kerala’s traditional fermented foods and modern probiotics are abundant sources of beneficial microorganisms. By protecting indigenous microbial communities, sustainable practices in agriculture, healthcare, and environmental protection can be promoted, and the excessive reliance on chemical substances in these fields can be eliminated. This initiative will also encourage studies, innovative ideas, and scientific education for the overall protection of human, animal, water, plant, and environmental sectors, based on a ‘One Health’ perspective.

While the newly chosen State Microbe will have regional significance, microorganisms transcend borders, making this initiative relevant to other states and regions. Under Kerala’s leadership, a national movement is being launched to recognize the beneficial influence of microorganisms and their crucial role in human and planetary health. In 2013, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was declared India’s National Microbe, a bacterium known for its probiotic properties, aiding digestion and boosting immunity through the fermentation process.