Advisory council approves draft of ‘National Gene Bank Management Policy-2024’

The advisory council of the interim government today approved the draft of the “National Gene Bank Management Policy 2024” to address the critical role of genetic resources in ensuring food security, mitigating climate change risks, and promoting sustainable socio-economic development.

This policy aims to establish guidelines for the proper conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources, reads a press statement issued by the Cabinet Division today (5 September).

A committee has been formed headed by the adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. The committee also includes advisers from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

The committee will experimentally update and revise the draft of the “National Gene Bank Management Policy-2024”.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will provide administrative support to the committee.

Through consultations with relevant stakeholders, the committee will finalise an updated and revised version of the policy.

Once finalised, the revised policy will be submitted by the committee to the Cabinet Division for placing it to the advisory council meeting.

A gene bank is a type of biorepository that is designed around the preservation of genetic information. Gene banks are often used for storing the genetic material of species that are endangered or close to extinction. They are also used for the preservation of major crop species and cultivars, in order to preserve crop diversity.

The government has already begun implementing the National Gene Bank Establishment Project, which is expected to be completed by June 2025.