NBA Reconstitutes Agrobiodiversity Expert Committee; Padma Shri Dr P. L. Gautam Named Chair

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted its Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity for a one-year term under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, with noted agricultural scientist and Padma Shri awardee Dr P. L. Gautam appointed as its Chairperson.

The committee has been tasked with providing expert guidance on the conservation, sustainable use, and access and benefit-sharing (ABS) aspects of agricultural biodiversity, along with other related policy and regulatory matters. The Chairperson of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) will serve as the committee’s Co-Chair.

Dr Gautam, a former Chairperson of both the National Biodiversity Authority and PPVFRA, was recently conferred the Padma Shri for his contributions to agricultural science. His appointment is expected to strengthen the committee’s role in addressing emerging challenges related to agricultural genetic resources and biodiversity conservation.

Established in 2005, the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity has served as a key advisory body to the NBA and has been periodically reconstituted to address evolving issues in the agriculture and biodiversity sectors. Over the years, it has brought together leading scientists, policymakers, legal experts and representatives from major agricultural and research institutions across the country.

The committee has played a significant role in supporting the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act through recommendations on matters such as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), access and benefit-sharing issues related to the export of seeds and livestock genetic material, conventional plant breeding activities, and approvals for collaborative research involving biological resources.

According to the NBA, the committee’s recommendations have helped strike a balance between biodiversity conservation goals and the needs of agricultural research, innovation and sustainable utilization of biological resources.

The newly reconstituted committee includes senior representatives and experts from institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), National Bureaus of Plant, Animal and Fish Genetic Resources, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, National Innovation Foundation, NALSAR University of Law and several other research and academic organizations.

In its renewed mandate, the committee will advise the NBA on integrating biodiversity considerations into agricultural development, promoting sustainable farming systems, examining issues related to the seed sector under the Biological Diversity Act, and reviewing guidelines for international collaborative research involving biological resources.

It will also recommend measures for conserving threatened native crop varieties and livestock breeds and provide technical and policy inputs for India’s participation in international agreements related to agricultural biodiversity, including the ITPGRFA.

The reconstitution of the committee reflects the Government of India’s continued focus on conserving agricultural biodiversity, safeguarding genetic resources and traditional knowledge, and promoting climate-resilient agricultural systems. The committee’s work is expected to contribute to India’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) targets and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals related to food security, climate action and biodiversity conservation.