Indigenous microbiology: Why Indigenous knowledge matters in microbial science

Abstract Indigenous knowledge has long engaged with microorganisms through relationships with environment, food, and health, yet these understandings remain marginal in mainstream microbiology. In this article, we argue that Indigenous microbiology offers a broader framework for microbial science by placing microorganisms within ecological, cultural, and ecosystem-specific relationships. This perspective is relevant to current challenges in sustainable agriculture, food security, and antimicrobial resistance. Drawing on examples from environmental management, traditional fermented foods, and therapeutic practices, we show that Indigenous knowledge can deepen microbiome research and contribute to developing healthy and sustainable strategies. Indigenous microbiology should not be treated as an informal add-on to existing science, but as a valuable framework for asking better questions about microbial life and its role in human and environmental wellbeing.