India’s Biodiversity Authority Secures Rs 9.68 Crore from Biological Resources
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has successfully collected Rs 9.68 crore from users of India’s biological resources during the six-month period from April 1 to September 30, 2026. This is in accordance with the Biological Diversity Act of 2002, as amended in 2023, as well as the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Regulations. Notably, Rs 9.56 crore has been specifically attributed to access fees for biological resources across various sectors.
Sector-wise Contributions
The Agri-seed sector led the contributions, bringing in a remarkable Rs 7.16 crore. Following closely were the Food & Beverages sector, which contributed Rs 1.59 crore, and the Animal Husbandry sector, which added Rs 62.01 lakh. An additional Rs 11.24 lakh was generated from intellectual property rights (IPR)-related applications. Minor contributions also came from sectors such as AYUSH, Red Sanders wood, and Cosmetics.
Below is a breakdown of the contributions by sector:
| Sector | ABS Receipts (in Crores) |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | 7.16 |
| Food & Beverages | 1.59 |
| Animal Husbandry | 0.62 |
| AYUSH | 0.21 |
| Red Sanders wood | 0.06 |
| Cosmetics | 0.04 |
| Total | 9.68 crore |
Key Contributors
Among the contributors, M/s East West Seeds India Ltd stood out as the largest ABS contributor, with a total of approximately Rs 2.01 crore from multiple payments. The single highest payment was recorded from M/s Synergia Life Science Ltd, amounting to Rs 1.17 crore. Other notable contributors included M/s Tata Chemicals Pvt Ltd (Rs 52.06 lakh), M/s Indena India Pvt Ltd (Rs 45.89 lakh), M/s Grow Indigo Ltd (Rs 45.79 lakh), M/s Novozymes South Asia (Rs 44.11 lakh), and M/s Nongwoo Seed India (Rs 40.53 lakh).
M/s Nunhems India Ltd contributed an upfront payment of around Rs 1.64 crore, with additional contributions from entities both domestically and internationally, including firms from Sri Lanka, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea, and Bhutan.
Diversity of Biological Resources
The diverse range of biological resources represented in the receipts spans agriculture, food production, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medicinal plants, microorganisms, and livestock. Specific agricultural crops highlighted include chickpeas, red lentils, green moong, horse gram, flaxseed, guar gum, tapioca, buckwheat, brown rice, cauliflower, okra, hot peppers, brinjal, and ridge gourd.
In the area of medicinal plants, resources such as Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Kalmegh, Vasaka, Licorice, Arjuna, Bacopa, Gotukola, and Moringa were included. The livestock genetic resources account for Mithun (Bos frontalis), Jersey cattle (Bos taurus), and frozen semen of Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), as well as Red Sanders wood sourced from cultivated spaces.
Linking Benefit Sharing with Conservation
Since its inception in 2008, the NBA has generated a total of approximately Rs 278 crore through the ABS framework, with over Rs 200 crore allocated for biodiversity conservation initiatives benefiting communities, farmers, and various institutions across the nation.
The ABS mechanism is designed not merely to collect funds but also to align the use of biological resources with biodiversity conservation efforts, ensuring equitable sharing of benefits. The disbursed funds go towards supporting conservation activities, the preparation and updating of People’s Biodiversity Registers, strengthening of Biodiversity Management Committees, and promoting biodiversity research and documentation, all aimed at enhancing the welfare of local communities.
This strong fiscal performance during the reported period underscores India’s commitment to sustainable use and conservation of its rich biological diversity.
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