The State government in Kerala has recently introduced a significant new policy, making it compulsory for all academic and research and development (R&D) institutions to set up dedicated Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) cells.
This crucial directive, issued following recommendations from the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB), is designed to align with broader national guidelines. Its core purpose is to guarantee a fair and equitable sharing of any benefits that arise from the utilization of biological resources and invaluable traditional knowledge.
These efforts are rooted in the comprehensive Biological Diversity (Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulations, 2025. This robust regulatory framework is specifically developed to foster sustainable biodiversity management and ensure full adherence to both national legal requirements and international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.
The government order further assigns the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) a pivotal role: to coordinate these efforts, formulate detailed guidelines, and actively raise public awareness about the new regulations. Ultimately, these newly established ABS cells will function as specialized internal units within each institution, responsible for overseeing, facilitating, and ensuring strict compliance with all stipulated ABS guidelines.