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Herbalife India has joined forces with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to establish the Herbalife-IITM Plant Cell Fermentation Technology Lab (PCFTL). This initiative, launched under Herbalife’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, aims to address the growing demand for plant based nutraceuticals, phytoceuticals, and phytopharmaceuticals while aligning with global sustainability goals.
The agreement was signed at IIT Madras in the presence of Ajay Khanna, MD, Herbalife India, and Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Madras. The lab will serve as a Centre of Excellence, focusing on sustainable solutions for high quality herbal raw materials and phytochemicals.
The collaboration supports the Indian government’s Bio-E3 policy, which aims to position India as a global leader in bio-manufacturing and advance the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Additionally, the initiative contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG3 (Good Health and Well-Being).
The lab will leverage plant cell fermentation technology to cultivate medicinal plants in vitro under controlled conditions, ensuring year round availability, purity, and bioactive consistency. Advanced bioreactor based scaling will enable large volume production in minimal space, overcoming challenges associated with traditional farming, such as land constraints and long harvesting cycles.
The Herbalife-IITM PCFTL will concentrate on five core areas:
- Innovative research: Conducting R&D, translational research, and blue-sky projects.
- Sustainable biomanufacturing: Scaling plant cell fermentation for herbal extracts.
- Technology driven solutions: Utilising in silico screening for phytochemical discovery and repurposing.
- Conservation efforts: Producing somatic embryos and plant materials for cultivating endangered medicinal species.
- Ecosystem engagement: Supporting hackathons and accelerator programmes to drive innovation.
Driving innovation and sustainability
Ajay Khanna emphasised the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. “This partnership with IIT Madras will transform the nutraceutical and wellness sectors. The lab will be a catalyst for innovation, capacity building, and industry collaboration, aligning with India’s Bio-E3 policy and National Biotechnology Development Strategy,” he said.
Prof. Smitha Srivastava from the Department of Biotechnology at IIT Madras highlighted the lab’s potential to drive pioneering research and academic training. “This state of the art facility will create meaningful outcomes for science, industry, and society,” she stated.
Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Madras, praised the partnership for its timely contribution to India’s sustainability goals. “Herbalife’s support for this initiative underscores their leadership in sustainable solutions for herbal raw materials and phytochemicals,” he added.
The Herbalife-IITM PCFTL represents a significant step towards sustainable innovation in the wellness sector. By combining cutting edge technology with academic expertise, the initiative aims to bridge the demand-supply gap for plant-based products while fostering entrepreneurship and industry collaboration.
