National Biodiversity Authority releases Rs. 15.52 crore ABS Proceeds from Mustard Genetic Resources

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 15.52 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) proceeds generated from ten commercial mustard hybrid varieties developed by M/s. Pioneer Overseas Corporation. The amount will be shared among 26 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils on the basis of mustard cultivation area, with Rajasthan receiving the largest share (Rs 6.43 crore). Under Section 32 of the Biological Diversity Act, the funds must be used for activities such as conservation, updating People’s Biodiversity Registers, in‑situ and ex‑situ conservation, ecosystem restoration, and capacity building of Biodiversity Management Committees. This disbursement is part of NBA’s broader effort under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to implement the Nagoya Protocol and the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.