The National Biodiversity Authority collected Rs 21.26 crore through the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism in the financial year 2025–26. This amount came from approvals for research, commercial use, intellectual property rights, bio-survey, and bio-utilization of biological resources, indicating increased industry involvement in India’s biodiversity governance.
The seed sector was the top contributor, accounting for Rs 11.75 crore during this period. Following closely was the AYUSH sector with Rs 5.56 crore. Other sectors like nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics, chemicals, biofuels, and food and beverage also made contributions.
Various sectors utilized about 300 biological resources, including maize, rice, turmeric, amla, mustard, bitter gourd, kalmegh, elachi, tulsi, guggal gum, neem leaves, garcinia, ashwagandha, pepper, and lavanga. The National Biodiversity Authority has collected a total of Rs 266 crore from users of biological resources and associated knowledge, with Rs 145 crore already distributed to beneficiaries nationwide.
The ABS mechanism, established under the Biological Diversity Act, ensures fair and equitable sharing of benefits from biological resource utilization with local communities, Biodiversity Management Committees, farmers, and traditional knowledge holders. These funds directly support biodiversity conservation, sustainable biological resource use, and grassroots livelihood enhancement, aligning with India’s biodiversity conservation goals.
The increasing industry contributions highlight the synergy between economic development and biodiversity conservation, fostering a sustainable and inclusive future for the country.
