India has introduced a new national standard aimed at strengthening the conservation of indigenous crop varieties and improving community-led seed management. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Department of Consumer Affairs, has released IS 20201:2026, a framework designed to standardize the operation of Community Seed Banks across the country.

The standard comes as agriculture faces increasing challenges from climate change, including irregular rainfall, rising temperatures and recurring drought conditions. Experts have long identified traditional seed varieties as an important resource because of their adaptability, drought tolerance, disease resistance and nutritional value.

New Framework Aims To Strengthen Agricultural Resilience

The newly released standard establishes guidelines for the complete management cycle of Community Seed Banks. It covers seed collection, acquisition, viability testing, processing, storage, documentation, quality assurance, regeneration practices and risk management.

Community Seed Banks function as decentralized repositories where farmers can collect, preserve and exchange locally adapted seeds. By providing a uniform management framework, the standard seeks to improve the quality, traceability and long-term conservation of traditional crop varieties.

According to BIS, the initiative is intended to support agricultural resilience, biodiversity conservation and food security while helping farming communities maintain access to locally suitable seed resources.

Supporting Biodiversity And Sustainable Farming

The standard aligns with India's broader efforts to conserve agricultural biodiversity and promote sustainable farming systems. It complements existing legal and policy frameworks, including the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

The National Food Security and Nutrition Mission provides financial assistance for establishing Community Seed Banks, supporting local efforts to preserve traditional seed varieties and strengthen food security.

Experts Shape National Guidelines For Seed Conservation

The standard was developed by the Biodiversity Sectional Committee under BIS's Environment and Ecology Department. Technical contributions came from the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, the National Biodiversity Authority, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, Rythu Sadhikara Samstha and the BAIF Development Research Foundation.

BIS stated that IS 20201:2026 is a voluntary certifiable management system standard and is available free of cost through its official portal. The framework is expected to help farmer groups, cooperative societies and community organizations adopt consistent practices for conserving indigenous seeds while supporting sustainable agriculture and long-term climate resilience.