P.L. Gautam appointed to head NBA's Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity
Synopsis
Padma Shri awardee and former National Biodiversity Authority chief P. L. Gautam has been tapped to lead India's reconstituted Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity — a body with direct influence over how the country manages its crop diversity, seed exports, and international plant genetic resource commitments. The appointment comes as India works to align domestic policy with updated NBSAP targets and UN SDGs.
Key Takeaways
Gautam , former Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority and PPVFRA , has been appointed to head the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity .
The committee was reconstituted under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 for a period of one year .
Gautam is a recent Padma Shri awardee for his contributions to agricultural science.
The committee will support India's NBSAP Targets 4 and 13 and contribute to SDG 2, SDG 13, and SDG 15 .
Members include representatives from ICAR , Tamil Nadu Agricultural University , NALSAR University of Law , and the National Innovation Foundation , among others.
The Expert Committee has been an advisory body of the NBA since 2005 .
Agricultural scientist and Padma Shri awardee P. L. Gautam has been appointed chairperson of the reconstituted Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity under the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change confirmed on Saturday, 13 June. The committee, revived under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, will serve a term of one year and provide expert guidance on the conservation, sustainable use, and access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of agricultural biodiversity.
Who Is P. L. Gautam
P. L. Gautam is a former Chairperson of both the National Biodiversity Authority and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA). He was recently conferred the Padma Shri in recognition of his distinguished contributions to agricultural science, making him one of the most decorated figures in India's agri-biodiversity policy space.
Mandate of the Reconstituted Committee
The Expert Committee will advise the NBA on integrating biodiversity considerations into the agriculture sector and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Its work is directly linked to India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) Targets 4 and 13, as well as the United Nations' SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through the conservation of agricultural genetic resources, native crop varieties, and livestock diversity.
Key Areas of Focus
The committee's advisory scope is wide-ranging. It covers matters relating to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), access and benefit-sharing issues arising from the export of seeds of crop varieties and embryos of farm animals, and clarifications on conventional plant breeding activities. It also oversees the format of approvals required under Section 5 of the Biological Diversity Act for collaborative research projects involving biological resources.
Who Sits on the Committee
The reconstituted body comprises eminent experts and senior representatives from key institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the National Bureaus of Plant, Animal and Fish Genetic Resources, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the National Innovation Foundation, NALSAR University of Law, and other leading research and academic organisations across the country.
A Two-Decade Legacy
The Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity has functioned as a key advisory body of the NBA since 2005, periodically reconstituted to address emerging issues concerning agricultural genetic resources. Over the years, its recommendations have contributed substantially to balancing biodiversity conservation with agricultural research, innovation, and the sustainable utilisation of biological resources. The latest reconstitution signals continued institutional commitment to that balance as India navigates evolving global biodiversity frameworks.
Point of View
However, is whether this reconstitution comes with sharper teeth. India's agrobiodiversity frameworks have historically struggled with enforcement gaps, particularly around benefit-sharing from commercial seed exports. With the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework raising the bar on national targets, the committee's recommendations will face greater international scrutiny than in previous cycles. The real test is whether its outputs translate into binding policy or remain advisory footnotes.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is P. L. Gautam and why was he appointed?
P. L. Gautam is an agricultural scientist and former Chairperson of both the National Biodiversity Authority and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA). He was appointed to head the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity due to his extensive experience in biodiversity policy and agricultural science, and was recently awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to the field.
What is the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity?
It is an advisory body under the National Biodiversity Authority, constituted under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The committee has been guiding the NBA on agricultural genetic resources, sustainable farming practices, and access and benefit-sharing matters since 2005.
What will the reconstituted committee focus on?
The committee will advise on integrating biodiversity into agriculture, conservation of native crop varieties and livestock diversity, and issues related to the ITPGRFA and seed export benefit-sharing. It will also support India's NBSAP Targets 4 and 13 and contribute to UN SDGs 2, 13, and 15.
Which institutions are represented on the committee?
The committee includes senior representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, ICAR, National Bureaus of Plant, Animal and Fish Genetic Resources, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the National Innovation Foundation, and NALSAR University of Law, among others.
How long will the reconstituted committee serve?
The reconstituted Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity has been constituted for a period of one year, as announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 13 June.
