**Executive Summary**
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity for a one-year term under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Chaired by Padma Shri Dr. P. L. Gautam, the committee is tasked with providing guidance on the conservation, sustainable use, and access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of agricultural genetic resources. Key objectives include supporting India’s international treaty obligations and aligning agricultural practices with national biodiversity targets and global Sustainable Development Goals.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Leadership and Governance**
* **Appointment of Chair:** Padma Shri Dr. P. L. Gautam, an eminent agricultural scientist and former NBA Chair, is appointed as the Chairperson.
* **Co-Chairmanship:** The Chairperson of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) will serve as the Co-Chair.
* **Legal Framework:** Reconstituted under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to serve as a specialized advisory body.
**Mandate and Technical Functions**
* **Advisory Role:** Provides expert recommendations on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
* **Regulatory Guidance:** Offers clarifications on conventional plant breeding, seed sector issues, and the export of crop seeds and animal embryos.
* **Research Oversight:** Reviews guidelines and approval formats for international collaborative research projects involving biological resources under Section 5 of the Act.
* **Conservation Focus:** Recommends measures for protecting threatened native crop varieties and livestock breeds.
**Strategic Objectives**
* **Sustainability:** Promotes climate-resilient agricultural systems and the integration of biodiversity considerations into the agriculture sector.
* **National Targets:** Supports the achievement of India’s updated NBSAP Targets 4 and 13.
* **Global Alignment:** Contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
**Impact Analysis**
**National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)**
**Impact**
The NBA receives specialized technical and policy inputs to better implement the Biological Diversity Act and manage access and benefit-sharing (ABS) issues.
**Action Required**
Incorporate the committee’s recommendations into official policy frameworks and approval processes for biological resource utilization.
**Agricultural Research and Academic Institutions**
**Impact**
Organizations like ICAR and various agricultural universities are affected by revised guidelines for international collaboration and conventional breeding activities.
**Action Required**
Ensure that all collaborative research projects and genetic resource exchanges adhere to the updated formats and guidelines recommended by the committee.
**Seed and Livestock Sectors**
**Impact**
Exporters and breeders of crop varieties and farm animals are subject to the committee's recommendations regarding export regulations and ABS.
**Action Required**
Align commercial and breeding operations with new clarifications on seed sector issues and animal embryo exports to remain compliant with the Biological Diversity Act.
**Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare**
**Impact**
The Ministry gains a structured advisory link to ensure agricultural innovation is balanced with biodiversity conservation.
**Action Required**
Collaborate with the committee to promote sustainable agricultural practices and safeguard traditional knowledge related to genetic resources.
Key Entities Referenced
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The statutory body responsible for reconstituting the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity to guide the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity.
Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity: An advisory body reconstituted to provide expert guidance on agricultural genetic resources, access and benefit-sharing, and international biodiversity agreements.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: The primary legislation under which the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity is constituted and governed, specifically under Section 13(1).
Dr. P. L. Gautam: A renowned agricultural scientist and former NBA Chairperson appointed as the Chair of the reconstituted Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity.
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA): A key international agreement for which the Expert Committee provides technical and policy inputs to support India's global engagements.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
National Biodiversity Authority Reconstitutes
Agrobiodiversity Expert Committee; Padma Shri
Dr P L Gautam Appointed Chair
प्रव तथ: 13 JUN 2026 10:03AM by PIB Delhi
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity
under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, for a period of one year to provide expert
guidance on the conservation, sustainable use and access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of agricultural
biodiversity and related matters.
The Committee has been reconstituted with Padma Shri Dr. P. L. Gautam, a renowned agricultural
scientist and former Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority and the Protection of Plant
Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), as its Chair. Dr. Gautam was recently conferred the
Padma Shri in recognition of his distinguished contributions to agricultural science. The Chairperson of
PPVFRA will serve as the Co-Chair of the Committee.
The Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity has been an important advisory body of the NBA since 2005
and has been reconstituted periodically to address emerging issues concerning agricultural genetic
resources. Over the years, the Committee has been led by eminent agricultural scientists and experts and
has comprised distinguished representatives from leading agricultural, research, academic and policy
institutions across the country.
The Committee has played a significant role in supporting the implementation of the Biological Diversity
Act by providing expert recommendations on a range of issues relating to agricultural biodiversity. These
include matters concerning the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(ITPGRFA), access and benefit-sharing issues arising from the export of seeds of crop varieties and
embryos of farm animals, clarifications relating to conventional plant breeding activities and the format of
approvals issued by the concerned Ministry for collaborative research projects involving biological
resources as required under Section 5 of the Biological Diversity Act.
The Committee’s recommendations have contributed substantially to balancing biodiversity conservation
objectives with agricultural research, innovation and the sustainable utilisation of biological resources.
The reconstituted Committee comprises eminent experts and senior representatives from key institutions,
including the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Indian Council of Agricultural Research,
National Bureaus of Plant, Animal and Fish Genetic Resources, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
National Innovation Foundation, NALSAR University of Law and other leading research and academic
organisations.
The Committee will advise the NBA on integrating biodiversity considerations into the agriculture sector
and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. It will examine issues relating to the seed sector under
the Biological Diversity Act, review guidelines for international collaborative research involving
biological resources and recommend measures for the conservation and sustainable use of threatenednative crop varieties and livestock breeds. The Committee will also provide technical and policy inputs to
support India's engagement with international agreements relating to agricultural biodiversity, including
the ITPGRFA.
The reconstitution of the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity reflects the Government of India’s
commitment to conserving agricultural biodiversity, safeguarding genetic resources and associated
traditional knowledge and promoting sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems.
The Committee will support the achievement of India’s updated NBSAP Targets 4 and 13 and contribute
to the realization of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through
the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural genetic resources, native crop varieties and livestock
diversity.
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GS
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