The Training Workshop on Innovative Utilization and Conservation of Health Plant Resources took place at Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences from July 13 to 14. Funded by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the event was hosted by the International Joint Laboratory for Health Plant Resources Development (HPRD LAB) at the institute. A total of 43 young scholars and students specializing in ethnobotany from 25 institutions nationwide attended the on-site sessions, while another 16 participants from 6 institutions joined the online courses.
Centered on carrying forward classic ethnobotany theories, integrating cutting-edge technologies, and fostering international interdisciplinary innovation, the training offered systematic curricula covering four core modules: conservation of traditional plant resources, publication of high-level research papers, advanced research methodologies, and industrial development of health plant resources. It featured keynote lectures delivered by a panel of top domestic and international experts.
Sixteen lecturers from three countries represented research institutes, universities and academic journals worldwide. International scholars Henrik Balslev and Marco Leonti shared research on Thai medicinal plants, global standards for ethnopharmacological studies, and publishing guidelines for the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Distinguished Chinese experts including Shengji Pei, Jianchu Xu, Luping Qin, Yongping Yang, Dacheng Hao and Yanfeng Liu delivered talks on frontier topics such as New Trends for ethnobotanical research, new cash crops, medicinal plant phylogeny, plant genomic breeding, anti-inflammatory herbal research, and synthetic biological manufacturing. Journal editors-in-chief and editors including Wenqian Wang, Jianwen Zhang and Yongping Yang shared practical tips for submitting manuscripts to English and Chinese journals such as Chinese Herbal Medicines, Plant Diversity and Plant and Bioculture, helping young researchers boost their paper output capacity.
Young research backbones including Yanfei Geng, Huizhao Yang, Shan Li and Libin Zhang presented case studies covering the core connotations and emerging research directions of ethnobotany, macro-scale ethnobotanical research combining remote sensing and spatial modeling, high-value utilization of notoginseng leaves, and industrial production of rare ginsenosides. Yao Fu and Yinxian Shi led interactive group workshops using participatory research methods, where participants completed practical tasks and presented group reports, achieving deep integration of theoretical learning and hands-on practice. The workshop concluded with a closing speech by Director Ruyu Yao of the joint laboratory, who awarded completion certificates to all participants.
This workshop built an international, interdisciplinary exchange platform that integrated the full research chain from theoretical exploration and academic publishing to industrial transformation. It effectively enhanced young researchers’ comprehensive research capabilities, broadened their research perspectives and methodological toolkit, and will support sustained production of high-quality innovative outcomes in ethnobotany and health plant resource research.
Group Photo
lecture session
Interactive participatory workshop session