Parceval CEO and SABPA Chairperson Ulrich Feiter, attended the 26th Indigenous Plant Use Forum Conference, held from the 11th-16th of August, 2024.
IPUF – 26th conference – !Khwa ttu, Western Cape
Also present was Parceval staff member Ana Sampson. This week-long event was a deep dive into the impactful and practical knowledge surrounding indigenous plant use, exploring a variety of major themes including ethnobotany, phytochemistry, socio-economic values, biodiversity and sustainability. The collaboration between IPUF participants and experts from different fields unlocked new scientific and market potentials through insightful and powerful discussions.
Key phrases resonated throughout the forum, such as “Needs-driven Research,” “Improved Quality of Living,” “Rituals,” “Cultural Significance,” “Connecting Nature’s Biodiversity with Sustainable Opportunity,” “Knowledge Holders’ Visibility,” “Returning to Ancestral Ways for Answers,” and “Novelty-Driven Traditional Products.”. A quote that encapsulated the spirit of IPUF was from Prof. Van Wyk, who said, “It is not the knowledge itself but the application of that knowledge that creates wealth.” This perfectly reflects IPUF’s mission to challenge our entrepreneurial thinking and create a space for networking between industry, academia, and traditional knowledge holders, leaving us inspired, empowered, and connected.
Topics such as ethnoveterinary potentials and the cultivation of plants for commercialization and sustainability were thoroughly explored. The forum provided an opportunity to reconnect with and document “almost lost” traditional knowledge, reviving it with purpose and meaning. A significant takeaway was the importance of involving Traditional Knowledge Holders, indigenous communities and forming known associations to ensure sustainable indigenous plant use.
Global speakers, including those from Jamaica, enriched the discussions with their diverse cultural perspectives, particularly their traditional and symbolic “resilience” with their medicinal root tonics. In a half day workshop, organised by SABPA, industry experts Ulrich Feiter (Parceval), Thomas Brendler (PlantaPhile), and Denzil Phillips (Denzil Phillips International LTD) delved into the commercialization of novel products from indigenous botanicals. Their expertise and interactive discussions highlighted the complexities of this wide industry, emphasizing the need to understand target audience desires, create unique selling points, barriers, manage risks, and ensure compliance with government regulations.