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CHENNAI, 25 June 2026: IIT Madras has partnered with Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd. to open the Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology. Located at IIT Madras, this center is the first of its kind in India to introduce advanced research on plant cell fermentation.The initiative, which was instituted on 22 June 2026, is the first of its kind in India to work on sustainable biomanufacturing coupled with the research and development for plant-based health and wellness products. The Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence is dedicated to innovative and sustainable research on plant cell fermentation technology. The Centre aims to make the production of herbal biomass as well as the extraction of herbal metabolites sustainable and economical, and to provide industrial applications for research undertaken in laboratories.
The Centre is dedicated to fostering innovation as well as the design and development of the first generation of plant cell fermentation technologies, and to training the workforce required for these activities. The Centre will actively undertake research of its own as well as develop and promote collaborations with other research organizations to encourage entrepreneurial activities based on the research undertaken.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi and Prof. V. Kamakoti were the chief guests at the inaugural ceremony. Shri Virendra R. Tiwari was the guest of honor. Other attendees included Mr. Ajay Khanna, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Prof. Smita Srivastava, and other stakeholders.
Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam commented on the collaboration with Herbalife: “IIT Madras’ partnership with Herbalife and the establishment of the Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation is an exemplar of how industry and academia can work together to build enduring assets for the nation. The Centre is equipped with cutting-edge research and bioprocessing, and we believe that with the facilities, we will be able to enable bioprocessing with a societal impact. We also believe that the Centre will help with India’s self-reliance in sustainable biomanufacturing, and also create opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship in bioproducts.”
The inauguration ended with the unveiling of the Centre and a tour of the facilities at IIT Madras Research Park.
During her speech, Professor Smita Srivastava, on the Herbalife-IIT Madras Center of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology, stated, "With the Herbalife-IIT Madras Centre of Excellence, we are one step closer to making India a global leader in commercial Plant Cell Fermentation. Our Centre aims to develop innovative, talent-driven, and environmentally sustainable technologies in the realm of health and wellness products. With the Centre’s aim of moving scientific and technological discoveries from the laboratories to the pilot studies and then to the societal and industrial realms, the Centre will also strengthen the country’s BioE3 and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.”
The Centre is predicted to stimulate a new wave of local and global collaborations between academia and industry, grow intellectual property and technology, incubate startups, and strengthen self-reliance through eco-friendly solutions.
The Centre will be a resource for students, researchers, and professionals. It will be equipped with custom bioreactors and analytical and scaled-up plant cell fermentation. Additionally, the Center will foster collaboration between academia and industry for the development of new plant-derived health and wellness products.
Herbalife India's Managing Director, Mr. Ajay Khanna said, "The Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence for Plant Cell Fermentation Technology will bring an advanced way of thinking for the future. This Centre will give many researchers, students, and innovators avenues to think about ways to use plant technologies and assist in the improvement and advancement of the science of nutrition. We expect the Centre to be a focal point for the generation and development of new ideas, skills, and research to assist in connecting the divide between what is discovered in the laboratory and what can be applied in the industry."
During the inaugural programme, a panel discussion focused on the future of plant cell fermentation technology, the commercialization of plant cell fermentation and the rapidly changing regulatory environment for plant cell fermentation technology-derived natural products.
The first session, titled 'Commercial Plant Cell Fermentation: Global Opportunities and Outlook in the Next Decade,' was attended by a panel of experts, including Mr. Uday Prakash, Vice President – Strategy, Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. U. V. Babu, Director, R&D, Himalaya Wellness Company; Dr. Gilbert Gorr, Chief Scientific Officer, Phyton Biotech GmbH, Germany; Dr. Philippe Jutras, Founder, Plant Cell Institute (PCI), UK; and Ms. Prithvi Kodialbail, Head – Partnerships, Extracellular, UK.
The second session, "Regulatory Landscape for Fermentation-derived Herbal Products in India: Perspectives from Enablers and Engagers," focused on the views of prominent scientists and regulatory and standards experts from the following organizations in India: Shri Virendra R. Tiwari, Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Chennai; Dr. Viswajanani J. Sattigeri, Head, Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), New Delhi; Dr. Giridhar Parvatam, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru; and Dr. Ganesh Ramamurthi, President, India Section, AOAC International, Mumbai.
The information put forth in all of these sessions discussed the emerging global opportunities for the use of modern technology and innovative regulatory approaches to introduce commercially and environmentally sustainable products. These discussions will strive to improve India’s position in the global market for plant cell fermentation and enhanced herbal extracts by promoting the cooperation of the research community, industry participants, and government policy creators.
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