New Expert Panel to Advance Climate-Resilient Farming Through Biodiversity Conservation

In a significant move to strengthen the conservation of agricultural genetic resources and promote climate-resilient farming, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted its Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity for a one-year term under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 . The committee will provide expert guidance on the conservation, sustainable use and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of agricultural biodiversity while advising the government on emerging policy, regulatory and research-related challenges.

The committee will be chaired by Padma Shri Dr. P. L. Gautam , one of India's most distinguished agricultural scientists and a key architect of the country's biodiversity and farmers' rights framework. The current Chairperson of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA) will serve as Co-Chair.

Dr. Gautam's appointment is particularly significant given his long association with India's agricultural and biodiversity governance systems. A renowned plant breeder and geneticist, he has previously served as Chairperson of both the National Biodiversity Authority and PPVFRA , Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) , Director of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) and Vice-Chancellor of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology . He was recently conferred the Padma Shri in recognition of his contributions to agricultural science, biodiversity conservation and agricultural education.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Dr. Gautam has contributed to the development of several improved crop varieties and played a major role in strengthening India's plant genetic resource conservation framework. He is also widely associated with the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act , making him one of the country's foremost experts on agrobiodiversity governance.

The Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity has served as one of the NBA's key advisory bodies since 2005. Over the years, it has provided recommendations on issues related to agricultural genetic resources, including the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) , access and benefit-sharing concerns arising from the export of seeds and livestock genetic material, conventional plant breeding activities and international collaborative research involving biological resources.

The newly reconstituted committee comprises senior representatives and experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare , ICAR , 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 institutions.

According to the NBA, the committee will focus on integrating biodiversity considerations into agriculture while balancing conservation goals with innovation, food security and farmers' interests. Among its key priorities are the conservation of native crop varieties , protection of indigenous livestock breeds , strengthening ABS mechanisms and addressing biodiversity-related issues in the seed sector.

The panel will also review guidelines governing international collaborative research involving biological resources and recommend measures to safeguard traditional knowledge and genetic resources. Experts believe its recommendations could influence future regulatory reforms by streamlining research approvals, improving benefit-sharing frameworks and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The committee's work will support India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) targets and contribute to the achievement of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) , SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) . The reconstitution of the panel underscores the government's commitment to conserving agricultural biodiversity while ensuring that innovation, food security and climate resilience advance together in India's agricultural sector.