New Delhi, 13 June (H.S.): The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted its Agricultural Biodiversity Expert Committee for a period of one year to provide expert guidance on matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Environment on Saturday, renowned agricultural scientist and Padma Shri awardee P. L. Gautam has been appointed Chairman of the committee. Dr Gautam has previously served as Chairman of the National Biodiversity Authority as well as the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA). The current Chairman of PPVFRA will serve as the committee’s Co-Chairman.

The NBA stated that the committee, which has been functioning since 2005, has played a significant role in providing recommendations on issues such as agricultural genetic resources, seed exports, Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), traditional plant breeding, and research collaborations involving biological resources.

According to the authority, the committee’s recommendations have been instrumental in maintaining a balance between biodiversity conservation and agricultural research, thereby supporting the sustainable management of biological resources.

The reconstituted committee includes experts and senior representatives from several leading institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, National Innovation Foundation, and NALSAR University of Law, among others.

The committee is expected to continue providing strategic and technical inputs to strengthen agricultural biodiversity conservation while promoting sustainable agricultural development and research in the country.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar