India needs to significantly expand the use of conserved genetic resources, including wild relatives and species, in crop, livestock and fish improvement programmes to broaden the genetic base and accelerate the development of climate-resilient, high-performing varieties and breeds, experts said at the first meeting of the reconstituted National Advisory Board on Management of Genetic Resources (NABMGR).
The meeting was held on July 29, 2026, at the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), New Delhi, with the Board outlining a roadmap for strengthening the conservation and sustainable utilization of India's rich agrobiodiversity.
Chairman of the NABMGR, Dr R.S. Paroda, underlined that India's plant, animal, fish, microbial and insect genetic resources are a strategic national asset supporting food and nutrition security, environmental sustainability and rural livelihoods. He called for each ICAR National Bureau to strategically prioritise conservation and management activities according to emerging national requirements.
Paroda stressed that conserved germplasm should not remain confined to gene banks but be actively integrated into breeding programmes. Greater use of wild relatives and other genetic resources, he said, could help broaden the genetic base and speed up the development of varieties and breeds capable of withstanding climate-related stresses while delivering higher performance.
He also called for stronger international collaboration, particularly with countries in Central and Southeast Asia, to facilitate access to valuable genetic resources. Strategic germplasm exchanges for crops such as cotton, rambutan, avocado and mangosteen, as well as livestock species such as sheep, were highlighted.
Paroda further advocated a legal framework to protect the rights of breeders and farmers in animal and fish genetic resources, similar to the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act.
ICAR Director General and NABMGR Co-Chair Dr M.L. Jat emphasised the need to link genetic resource management with soil science, digital agriculture and crop improvement. Identifying genetic resources suited to specific soil types and agro-ecological regions, he said, could accelerate location-specific and climate-resilient farming systems.
The Board recommended strengthening pre-breeding programmes, systematic collection of germplasm from unexplored regions and closer coordination among ICAR's six National Bureaux managing genetic resources. It also backed an inter-institutional programme to mainstream traditional and underutilised crops, livestock breeds, fish, microorganisms and insects.
The Board reviewed progress on the National Safety Genebank and suggested its timely completion, with the aim of dedicating it to the nation during ICAR's centenary celebrations in 2028-29.
The recommendations are expected to strengthen India's agrobiodiversity governance and contribute to the Viksit Bharat vision by improving agricultural resilience, food security and sustainable development.