The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has released IS 20201:2026, a new voluntary management standard for Community Seed Banks (CSBs) that establishes comprehensive requirements for preserving indigenous crop varieties. According to Business Standard, the standard provides a common framework for managing locally conserved seed varieties and covers the complete seed-management lifecycle from acquisition and cleaning to testing, drying, storage, regeneration, documentation, and risk management. The certifiable standard is available free of charge on the BIS portal, potentially enabling wider adoption by farmer groups, cooperatives, civil society organizations, and local institutions involved in biodiversity conservation. The standard, which lays out requirements covering the full lifecycle of seed bank operations from collection and viability testing to storage, documentation and regeneration practices, is specifically aimed at protecting traditional crop varieties as climate change threatens the country's agricultural heritage.
As reported by Business Standard, the consumer affairs ministry emphasized that native seed varieties, many of which carry traits such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, and high nutritional value, represent a critical strategic resource for an agrarian economy grappling with erratic rainfall and rising temperatures. The ministry stated that by offering a standardized operating protocol for decentralised, community-led seed banks, IS 20201:2026 aims to promote conservation of these indigenous varieties and strengthen climate-resilient agriculture. Community Seed Banks are increasingly viewed as important tools for climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and seed sovereignty, unlike commercial seed systems that primarily distribute standardized varieties. The standard specifically addresses the urgent need to preserve climate-resilient crops as the country faces mounting pressure from changing weather patterns.
According to Business Standard, the certifiable standard was developed under the convenorship of the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, with technical support from ICAR-NBPGR and other biodiversity institutions. The standard development process involved inputs from the National Biodiversity Authority, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, and the BAIF Development Research Foundation. The standard aligns with existing government programmes, including the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), which provides assistance of up to ₹50 lakh for establishing community seed banks. This financial support complements the standardized procedures to improve long-term preservation and usability of traditional seed varieties. The standard also provides statutory protections under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
As reported by Business Standard, compliance would allow community seed banks to function as decentralised repositories, enabling local farmers to collect, store, and exchange locally adapted seeds. The ministry indicated that this measure would protect smallholders' livelihoods and build grassroots food security. Community Seed Banks serve as locally managed repositories that collect, conserve, exchange, and regenerate traditional or locally adapted seed varieties, focusing on preserving crop diversity and maintaining farmer access to seeds that are often better adapted to local environmental conditions. All community seed banks, cooperative societies, and agricultural stakeholders have been encouraged to adopt the guidelines, with BIS established under the BIS Act, 2016, serving as India's national standards body.
