Biodiversity ABS: NBA Funds Agribusiness Sector as Rs 3.79 Crore is Disbursed for Crop Genetic Resources
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has finalized a significant disbursement of approximately Rs 3.79 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism. These funds have been allocated to 33 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs). The release also includes grants to NBPGR-ICAR and the Hisar Bovine Sperm Station, supporting crucial biodiversity conservation efforts nationwide.This financial movement directly links corporate activities in agriculture with grassroots conservation in India. The ABS amount was generated by several corporations, including M/s Bayer Science and Innovation Pvt. Ltd., M/s HM Clause India Pvt. Ltd., and M/s Advanta Enterprises Limited. These companies accessed various vegetable and oilseed genetic resources for commercial and research use.
Which Companies and Crops Generated ABS Revenue?
The disbursed funds cover a diverse range of agrobiodiversity, ranging from crucial staple vegetables to specialized animal genetics. The resources covered include tomato, chilli, brinjal (eggplant), cauliflower, watermelon, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, okra, mustard seed varieties, and deep-frozen Sahiwal cattle semen.For instance, the ABS related to Tomato and Watermelon seed varieties, accessed by Bayer Science and Innovation Pvt. Ltd. and HM Clause India Pvt. Ltd., generated Rs 86.56 lakh and Rs 24.32 lakh respectively. Separately, Advanta Enterprises Limited was credited with Rs 148 lakh for accessing germplasm related to bitter gourd, bottle gourd, brinjal, cauliflower, hot pepper, okra, and tomato.
The NBA ensured fair distribution using cultivation-area data published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Additionally, a specific ABS amount arose from the Department of Animal Production and Health, Government of Sri Lanka, concerning access to Sahiwal cattle semen, which was credited to the Hisar Bovine Sperm Station through the Haryana State Biodiversity Board.
Top States Receive Largest Share of Agricultural Biodiversity Funds
The allocation reflects the active cultivation footprint of these crops across different regions. The funds are intended to support various activities, such as updating People's Biodiversity Registers and strengthening Biodiversity Heritage Sites. Recipients must use these resources for in-situ conservation and socio-economic development within local communities.Madhya Pradesh received the largest share, amounting to Rs 46.93 lakh. Other top beneficiaries included West Bengal (Rs 44.76 lakh), Odisha (Rs 44.08 lakh), and Gujarat (Rs 34.76 lakh). Andhra Pradesh and Bihar also secured substantial amounts at Rs 29.21 lakh and Rs 29.20 lakh respectively, showcasing the widespread impact of these genetic resources across India's agricultural heartlands.
Reinforcing India's Commitment to Global Biodiversity Framework
This ABS transaction mechanism operates under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and aligns with the internationally recognized Nagoya Protocol. The framework mandates equitable benefit sharing when biological resources are accessed globally. If companies access resources via intermediaries or markets without identifying the original source, the NBA steps in to facilitate benefit-sharing based on expert committee modalities.The use of these funds directly supports the UN's Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This initiative actively contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). These releases confirm that commercial activity in agriculture is being reinvested directly into conservation efforts at the local level.
The NBA's cumulative ABS disbursements have now crossed Rs 166 crore. Each release thus strengthens the vital connection between scientific research, economic utilization, and the livelihoods of communities dedicated to conserving India’s rich genetic heritage.
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