By Suman Munshi
Chief Editor, IBG NEWS

New Delhi, August 2, 2026: In a major step towards promoting biodiversity conservation and ensuring equitable sharing of benefits from India’s biological resources, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed ₹8.22 crore to three research institutions and 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils. The release represents one of the largest single Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) disbursements for rice in the country.

The amount was received from M/s Pioneer Overseas Corporation, an international seed company that used Indian rice (Oryza sativa) varieties to develop and commercialize hybrid seeds. The disbursement reflects India’s commitment to ensuring that benefits arising from the commercial utilization of its biological resources are shared fairly with the institutions and States that have conserved these valuable genetic resources.

Research Institutions Receive ₹2.47 Crore

Out of the total amount, ₹2.47 crore has been allocated to research institutions that conserved and shared the rice varieties with the company.

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad, received the largest share of ₹2.43 crore, while the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, received ₹3.26 lakh for the specific rice variety it contributed.

The funds will be utilized to strengthen germplasm conservation, maintain seed collections, and support scientific research and training programmes.

₹5.75 Crore Distributed Among States and Union Territories

The remaining ₹5.75 crore has been distributed among 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils based on the rice-growing area of each State and Union Territory, using data available on the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Uttar Pradesh received the highest allocation of ₹73,26,225, while States and Union Territories with comparatively smaller rice cultivation areas, including Sikkim and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, also received proportionate allocations.

Top 10 State-wise Allocations

The State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils will utilise the funds for approved biodiversity conservation initiatives, including:

• Protection of native crop diversity.
• Ecosystem restoration.
• Documentation of traditional knowledge.
• Support for local farmers and traditional knowledge holders.

Growing Access and Benefit Sharing Programme

The NBA has so far received nearly ₹83 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) payments from the agriculture and seed sector alone. Across all sectors, the Authority’s total ABS disbursements have now crossed ₹162 crore, underscoring the expanding implementation of India’s biodiversity benefit-sharing framework.

Supporting Global Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goals

The initiative contributes to Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, including associated traditional knowledge.

It also advances several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

About the National Biodiversity Authority

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The Authority regulates access to India’s biological resources and associated traditional knowledge while implementing the Nagoya Protocol’s principle of fair and equitable benefit-sharing, ensuring that communities, research institutions and States benefit from the commercial use of the nation’s rich biodiversity.

Published Date: August 3, 2026