The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted its Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, for a one-year term to provide expert guidance on conservation, sustainable use, and access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of agricultural biodiversity.
Padma Shri Dr. P. L. Gautam, a renowned agricultural scientist and former Chairperson of both the NBA and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA), has been appointed as Chair of the committee. The current Chairperson of PPVFRA will serve as Co-Chair.
The committee, which has been an important advisory body to the NBA since 2005, 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 organizations.
The reconstituted committee will advise the NBA on integrating biodiversity considerations into the agriculture sector and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Its specific mandates include examining issues relating to the seed sector under the Biological Diversity Act, reviewing guidelines for international collaborative research involving biological resources, and recommending measures for the conservation and sustainable use of threatened native 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 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). This reconstitution supports India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Targets 4 and 13 and contributes to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land) through the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural genetic resources.