PM Modi Unveils New Gene Bank to Safeguard Food Security and Genetic Resources

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the establishment of a new National Gene Bank to safeguard India’s genetic resources and enhance food security for future generations. The initiative, revealed during a post-budget webinar on Wednesday, is a key component of the 2025-26 budget and aims to strengthen India’s agricultural biodiversity.

A gene bank serves as a secure repository for genetic materials such as seeds, pollen, and tissue samples from different plant species. By preserving these resources, it helps prevent the extinction of vital crops and ensures their availability for future agricultural research and development. The newly proposed Gene Bank will be India’s second National GenBank, designed to house one million germplasm lines. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, this facility will play a crucial role in genetic resource management, benefiting both public and private sector institutions engaged in agricultural conservation.

Beyond ensuring food security within India, the initiative is expected to enhance the country's position as a global leader in biodiversity conservation. The new Gene Bank will provide critical conservation assistance to SAARC and BRICS nations, particularly those that lack well-established plant genetic resource (PGR) networks. By sharing its expertise and resources, India aims to support international agricultural resilience, ensuring that developing countries also have access to sustainable food production strategies.

India’s first National Gene Bank, established in 1996 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in New Delhi, has played a fundamental role in collecting, preserving, and researching plant genetic materials. This facility, along with 12 regional stations, has been instrumental in storing crop germplasms, which are essential for maintaining agricultural diversity. Currently, the ICAR-NBPGR gene bank houses 0.47 million accessions of plant genetic material, including cereals, millets, legumes, oilseeds, and vegetables, supporting both research and crop breeding programs.

India is recognized as one of the most biodiversity-rich countries, home to over 811 cultivated crop species and 902 crop wild relatives. This vast genetic diversity plays a pivotal role in ensuring agricultural resilience, particularly in the face of climate change, natural disasters, and geopolitical challenges. With rising global concerns over food security and sustainability, the establishment of a second National Gene Bank is expected to further fortify India’s ability to preserve critical plant species.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has emphasized that the new facility will serve as a fail-safe repository for India’s genetic material, ensuring long-term conservation and accessibility. With global food systems increasingly under pressure, this initiative will contribute to a more sustainable and secure agricultural future, reinforcing India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and agricultural innovation.