What happened: NBA ABS disbursal of close to Rs. 3.79 crore
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed close to Rs. 3.79 crore as Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) to 33 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs). The release also included funds for ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) and, through the Haryana State Biodiversity Board, support to the Hisar Bovine Sperm Station and Research Centre.
NBA reported that the ABS disbursals covered agrobiodiversity resources such as seed varieties and hybrids of tomato, chilli, brinjal, cauliflower, watermelon, and other vegetables. NBA also reported inclusion of deep-frozen Sahiwal cattle semen as part of the biological-resource ABS set.
How NBA connected ABS realisations to specific access cases
NBA stated that ABS realisations arose from access by named companies for research and commercial utilisation of vegetable and oilseed genetic resources. NBA named M/s Bayer Science and Innovation Pvt. Ltd. and M/s HM Clause India Pvt. Ltd. as entities linked to ABS realisations for vegetable genetic resources, and M/s Advanta Enterprises Limited as an entity linked to ABS realisations for germplasm/seed-related resources.
NBA also stated that ABS realisations arose from access by the Department of Animal Production and Health, Government of Sri Lanka for access to Sahiwal cattle (Bos indicus) semen.
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