Kerala State Biodiversity Board Chairman N. Anil Kumar chaired a strategic discussion on agro-biodiversity initiatives in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) convened a strategic discussion on agro-biodiversity initiatives on Thursday to commemorate World Food Day.
The meeting, chaired by KSBB Chairman N. Anil Kumar, was attended by 18 research institutions and universities to review the progress and formulate steps for similar projects in the state.
The discussion focused on a multi-agency program launched in 2022 to identify, protect and promote wild and underutilized edible plants throughout the state. Participating institutions, including Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute and Kerala Agricultural University, presented findings and recommendations for policy integration.
The meeting focused on more than 1,400 documented wild edible species, including 280 species of legumes, 240 wild edible fruits, 96 species of tubers, 320 species of leafy vegetables, 70 varieties of millet, 42 species of mushrooms, 80 cultivars of bananas, more than a hundred species of seaweed, and more than 200 species of seaweed.
It also delved into 3,554 examples of traditional knowledge recorded from 336 tribal knowledge holders and highlighted the need for access and benefit sharing (ABS) and intellectual property rights (IPR) protection.
According to official sources, the recommendations will be collected to prepare a state policy for conservation and mainstreaming of wild and underutilized edible products. Priority areas will include comprehensive value addition from germplasm to market, community nurseries and decentralized promotion, integration with public health and school feeding programs, codified ABS and IPR protocols for equitable benefit sharing, and market development and procurement mechanisms.
KSBB will coordinate with industry stakeholders, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Institute of Advanced Virology and Center of Excellence in Nutraceuticals to accelerate responsible commercialization of value added products. The data bank is also planned to showcase Kerala’s leadership in biodiversity and the market potential of functional foods and sustainable agriculture, the official said.
KSBB Member Secretary V. Balakrishnan and KSCSTE Member Secretary A. Sabu were among those who addressed the rally.
Published – 16 Oct 2025 20:41 IST
