National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources has been designated as national “Repository” for safe custody of genetic resources of domestic animals (vide sections 39(1-3) and 19(1) of the Biological Diversity Act 2002, as notified by Ministry of Environment and Forests. The repository is also under obligation to store representative samples of the germplasm, so as to procure permission by stakeholder for germplasm export / transfer by National Biodiversity Authority of India. The repository, as also envisaged in action plan of “Delhi Declaration on Agrobiodiversity Management”, is adopted as roadmap for conservation and utilization of genetic resources to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Aichi Biodiversity Targets (ABT).

Accordingly ICAR-NBAGR has established a National GeneBank, where genetic biodiversity of indigenous farm animals represented by a broad spectrum of native breeds of different species are cryo conserved in the form of sperms, somatic cells, DNA etc. The stored genetic material will not only help in recreating a lost breed in future but also help breeders to utilize a wide range of production environments, and develop diverse products to meet the needs of local communities.