On November 4th, 2025, the EPB Academic Forum themed "Science and the Need for Global Cross-Cultural Communication on Herbal Medicines versus the Pitfalls of ‘Living in a Paperbag’" was successfully hosted at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The event featured a keynote speech by Prof. Michael Heinrich, a preeminent figure in ethnopharmacology from the University of London, President of the International Society for Medicinal Plants and Natural Products (GA)，Academic committee member of HPRD Lab, and a newly selected PIFI distinguished scientist by CAS.
Prof. Heinrich, with expertise spanning botany, anthropology, pharmacy, and pharmacology, shared critical insights into herbal medicine research. He emphasized the transdisciplinary nature of the field, stressing the integration of traditional local knowledge with modern science as the foundation for progress. A key focus was climate change’s impact on medicinal plants—deforestation, habitat loss, and shifting weather patterns threaten species survival and product quality, yet the research community has paid insufficient attention to this issue.
Quality control and the bioeconomy emerged as pressing challenges. Prof. Heinrich cited his study on Rosewood showing 25% of unregistered Rosewood products lack adequate active ingredients, while 75% fail to meet marker substance standards. He noted that explosive demand in the bioeconomy can push common species to risk, calling for sustainable sourcing and improved supply chain management.
He highlighted the concentration of climate change and medicinal plant research in China, India, and Iran, praising China’s leadership, especially during the pandemic. He urged global collaboration and mentioned upcoming international conferences as opportunities for diverse research exchange.
Prof. Heinrich proposed actionable strategies, including secondary forest development, sustainable laboratory practices, and standardized medicinal plant characterization guidelines. The forum served as a vital platform for global researchers to align on strategies, advancing the sustainable development and internationalization of herbal medicine.
Prof. Heinrich is giving a lecture in EPB Academic Forum
Group photo of the participants in the forum on Nov. 4th
Prof. Heinrich has been honored as a PIFI Distinguished Scientist by CAS