National Biodiversity Authority Releases ₹15.5 Crore in Access and Benefit Sharing Proceeds

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed ₹15.52 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds accrued from mustard genetic resources back to agricultural research centers and local communities. This mechanism ensures that commercial gains derived from biological resources directly compensate indigenous farmers and regional conservators who protect native crop diversity. Officials highlighted that equitable revenue sharing incentivizes rural bio-conservation while strengthening national intellectual property protections over indigenous plant germplasm. Strengthening Benefit Sharing Under the Biological Diversity Act In a major advancement for environmental governance and indigenous genetic resource protection, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹15.52 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism. Functioning as a statutory regulator under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the NBA oversees compliance with the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The newly disbursed funds represent royalty proceeds collected from M/s. Pioneer Overseas Corporation, which developed ten commercial mustard (Brassica juncea) hybrid varieties utilizing native biological resources. Because the firm bred the hybrids using parental lines sourced through market intermediaries rather than direct community channels, the NBA constituted a specialized Expert Committee to formulate an equitable disbursal framework. Under this approved model, the ABS proceeds are distributed across 26 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and 3 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) based on relative mustard cultivation area. Cultivation-Based Disbursal across States and Union Territories To establish an accurate, objective formula for funds allocation, the NBA utilized state-level cultivation data provided by the ICAR–Indian Institute of Rapeseed-Mustard Research (ICAR-IIRMR). Rajasthan—which accounts for nearly 42 percent of India's national mustard acreage—received the largest benefit share at ₹6.43 crore. Uttar Pradesh followed with ₹2.28 crore, Madhya Pradesh with ₹1.86 crore, and Haryana with ₹1.21 crore. Other notable allocations were directed to West Bengal (₹1.10 crore), Jharkhand (₹0.73 crore), Assam (₹0.53 crore), and Gujarat (₹0.48 crore). Under Section 32 of the Biological Diversity Act, receiving state boards must deploy these funds toward localized conservation initiatives. Approved activities include updating People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), restoring degraded agricultural ecosystems, supporting in-situ and ex-situ conservation, and strengthening local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). Global Alignment and Long-Term Conservation Impact This distribution highlights India's ongoing commitment to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which mandates fair and equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resources. To date, the NBA has cumulative ABS releases amounting to ₹182.5 crore, with ₹116.22 crore disbursed within the last twelve months alone. By establishing clear financial modalities when genetic resources are accessed via commercial market traders, the authority provides a transparent template for future agribusiness partnerships. Ultimately, ensuring commercial returns flow back to the sub-national regions that maintain agricultural biodiversity safeguards traditional farming knowledge and strengthens long-term ecological security. For a brief summary of this release, check out the National Biodiversity Authority ABS Proceeds Video, which provides a quick overview of the ₹15.52 crore distribution across India's state boards.