Padma Shri P.L. Gautam to Head NBA Agrobiodiversity Panel

• Padma Shri Dr. P.L. Gautam appointed Chairman of Agrobiodiversity Expert Committee
• Committee reconstituted for one year under Biological Diversity Act
• Focus on conservation, sustainable use and benefit-sharing of agricultural biodiversity
• Panel to advise on seed sector, genetic resources and climate-resilient agriculture

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th June: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted its Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity for a period of one year, appointing renowned agricultural scientist and Padma Shri awardee Dr. P.L. Gautam as its Chairman.

The committee has been constituted under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to provide expert guidance on the conservation, sustainable use and access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of agricultural biodiversity and related issues.

Dr. Gautam, a former Chairman of both the National Biodiversity Authority and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), was recently honoured with the Padma Shri for his contributions to agricultural science. The Chairperson of PPVFRA will serve as the Co-Chair of the committee.

The Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity has functioned as an important advisory body to the NBA since 2005 and has been periodically reconstituted to address emerging challenges relating to agricultural genetic resources and biodiversity conservation.

Over the years, the committee has played a key role in advising the NBA on matters related to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), access and benefit-sharing issues arising from the export of crop seeds and livestock embryos, conventional plant breeding activities and collaborative research involving biological resources.

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

The newly reconstituted committee includes experts and senior representatives 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.

The committee will advise the NBA on integrating biodiversity concerns into agricultural development and promoting sustainable farming practices. It will also examine issues related to the seed sector under the Biological Diversity Act, review guidelines governing international collaborative research and recommend measures for conserving threatened native crop varieties and livestock breeds.

In addition, the panel will provide technical and policy inputs to support India’s participation in international agreements concerning agricultural biodiversity, including the ITPGRFA.

The Ministry said the reconstitution of the committee reflects the Government’s commitment to conserving agricultural biodiversity, protecting genetic resources and traditional knowledge, and promoting sustainable and 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 Zero Hunger, Climate Action and Life on Land.