The Kerala Agrobiodiversity Conference 2025 (KAbCon-2025), a two-day international event, jointly organized by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board and Kerala Agricultural University was held from December 22-23 at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The inauguration ceremony symbolically featured the planting of five endangered plant species. Dr. V.K. Ramachandran, Vice Chairperson of the State Planning Board, inaugurated the conference and affirmed Kerala's status as a 'plant genetic paradise'. The conference highlighted the urgent global need to protect agrobiodiversity for resilient food systems. The central focus of the conference is the drafting of an Agrobiodiversity Policy for the state of Kerala. A primary concern raised was the alarming loss of seed and plant diversity worldwide. In recognition of conservation efforts, the event honored 58 'Genome Saviour' farmers. A special video presentation detailing the KSBB-funded project, "Restoring the Vellayani Lake Ecosystem," was also screened. The second day focused intently on policy frameworks for sustainable use and climate resilience. Discussions comprehensively spanned community seed systems and indigenous knowledge integration. The conference successfully united a diverse gathering of 300 delegates from multiple sectors. Participants included students, scientists, policymakers, and farmers from across the globe.

On October 7, 2025, KSBB convened a strategic session for MLAs in Thiruvananthapuram. The event, themed “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Development,” integrated recognition with legislative capacity building. It commenced with the presentation of the Kerala State Biodiversity Awards. As part of the program, there were release of  a couple of publications including the New Kerala State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2035, 20 year Annual report of KSBB, Guardian’s of seeds, Signatures of Biodiversity conservation and Compendium of Major Policy Advocacy Research Project By KSBB. This was followed by an in-depth legislative briefing on the revised Biodiversity Act and Rules. The dual format directly connected exemplary local practices with the supporting policy framework. The session equipped lawmakers with crucial insights to advocate for biodiversity within development planning. It fostered essential dialogue between on-ground conservation action and state-level legislation. This initiative aimed to strengthen the critical link between ecological stewardship and governance. During the program, Kerala Speaker Adv. A.N. Shamseer emphasized the role of Biodiversity conservation in managing climate change. The event reiterates the stakeholders to champion biodiversity as a core pillar of sustainable growth and to take significant steps toward institutionalizing ecological balance in the need for development.

"Dharani 2025: Kerala's Youth Uniting for Biodiversity & Climate Change" is aimed at successfully mobilizing young people across the state for environmental resilience. Dharani 2025 is the 18^th Students’ Biodiversity Congress, an event organized annually and without interruption for the past 17 years by the KSBB. So far more than 40,000 students were part of the programs associated with the Students’ Biodiversity Congress. Dharani 2025 recently concluded district-level Student Biodiversity Congresses spanning ten districts. These grassroots events engaged approximately 2,000 students in various competitive categories. Participants showcased their commitment through scientific projects, artistic expressions, and homestead biodiversity presentations. This engagement highlighted significant student innovation and environmental management. After completion of the 14 district level SBCs, outstanding performers from these district congresses will participate in the state-level forum.

On 16 October, The World Food Day 2025, KSBB convened a pivotal workshop highlighting transformative research on forgotten edible species. Extensive studies supported KSBB, were presented by 18 teams. The presentations highlighted the outcome of the study ranging from a comprehensive digital database and detailed nutritional profiles for numerous wild and underutilized plants. A key output is the meticulous documentation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) associated with such foods. Researchers also developed promising prototypes for value-added products to enhance market potential.

Expert evaluations commended the scientific quality and local relevance of these findings. Strategic recommendations focus on submitting germplasm to national repositories for permanent conservation. The panel urged strong collaborations with farmers and startups to scale up product development and in-situ conservation. Furthermore, they advised launching public awareness campaigns and creating simple identification manuals for wider community use.

These outputs will be compiled into a major publication and promoted at upcoming science conclaves.

The Karnataka Biodiversity Board (KBB) undertook a peer-to-peer learning visit to the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) from October 29 to 31, 2025. This knowledge-sharing delegation focused on critical aspects of biodiversity governance and implementation. The program included insightful field visits to interact with Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in Kutichal and Kollam, showcasing grassroots conservation and traditional knowledge systems. The delegation further explored biodiversity-rich sites across Kollam and Alappuzha districts, such as Ashtamudi Lake, organic farming models, and the backwater ecosystems. These visits emphasized practical approaches to ecosystem management and sustainable livelihood integration.