Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the establishment of a Gene Bank aimed at ensuring food security and conserving genetic resources for future generations. This initiative, revealed during a post-budget webinar, solidifies India’s role as a global leader in biodiversity conservation and reflects a commitment to agricultural and food preservation.
With a focus on empowering citizens and fostering economic growth through innovation, discussions during the webinar seek to realize a sustainable future. India’s first gene bank was set up in 1996 by ICAR-NBPGR, comprising 12 stations dedicated to conserving vital crop germplasms.
As of January 15, 2025, the ICAR-NBPGR maintains 0.47 million accessions, including cereals (0.17 million), millets (60,600+), legumes (69,200+), oilseeds (63,500+), and vegetables (30,000). The Ministry of Finance plans to establish a second National GenBank in the 2025-26 budget to conserve India’s agricultural biodiversity, housing 1 million germplasm lines for public and private sectors.
India, with 811 cultivated species and 902 wild relatives, plays a key role in preserving plant genetic resources for food security and resilience against climate change, reinforcing its commitment to global biodiversity and sustainable farming.
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