On 27 August 2020, a National Webinar on Implementation of Access to Plant Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) was organized jointly by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT under UN Environment implemented GEF project, India Office, New Delhi, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources (ISPGR), National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) and Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS).
The webinar, which was also streamed live on YouTube was attended by more than 200 participants that included users and providers of genetic resources such as communities, BMCs, SBB, national and international genebanks and crop-based institutes and universities with experience in both commercialization and regulatory systems involved for use of biological resources.
The objective of the webinar was to understand the existing inconsistencies in the ABS system in India and suggest measures for improvements including policy reorientation; to suggest options for regulating ABS beyond rewards and recognitions and to devise means for benefit sharing by the communities for sustainable management of bioresources; to suggest effective models of ABS to benefit both public and private organizations and to suggest mechanisms for establishing the National Gene Fund meant for effective benefit sharing and capacity development.
Jai C Rana, Country Representative–India, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT welcomed the participants and the context of the webinar was provided by Kuldeep Singh, Director, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources. T Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR (Chief Guest), Juan Lucas Restrepo, DG, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (Guest of Honour), V B Mathur, Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority, India (special invitee) and R S Paroda, President, ISPGR and Chairman, TAAS (Chair) set the tone of the webinar and provided insight into the underlying issues related to fair benefit sharing mechanism.
In the Technical Session, perspectives on ABS implementation were shared by the four eminent speakers - Vania C.R. Azevedo, Head of Genebank, ICRISAT, Malathi Lakshmikumaran, Executive Director, Laxmikumaran & Sridharan Associates, R. Kaundinya, DG, Federation of Seed Industry of India and Shalini Bhutani, Legal Researcher and Policy Analyst, FAO-India.
The Panel Discussion was well represented by concerned experts and stakeholders like Álvaro Toledo, Deputy Secretary, ITPGRFA Secretariat, Neeti Wilson, Partner, Anand & Anand, P. Narayanan Unny, Progressive Farmer, Navara Eco Farm, to name a few. The webinar ended with concluding remarks by the Chairs and the Co-Chairs who summarised the various aspects that can lead to ABS benefitting both the public and private sectors.
