Ethnobotanists are a rare breed.
What’s an ethnobotanist, you ask? We’re the rare unicorns who can identify 20 medicinal roots in our salads, accidentally turn a networking event into a lecture on indigenous fermentation, and ask awkward questions about the provenance of your cup of herbal tea.
This work requires us to connect across disciplines and continents, whether we’re in the lab, the field, or a boardroom.
Meet Trish Flaster: Legend, sister Ethnobotanist, and long-time friend. Trish has spent decades pioneering reference materials and setting up sustainable supply chains that serve as examples of ethical production for the botanical industry.
I am always thankful to be able to share time with a friend who understands the role of plants as vessels of culture and catalysts for industry transformation, and to reflect on how few of us devote our careers to honoring these connections.
We started this day over breakfast in a very Ethnobotanical way: discussing Frankincense sustainable supply chains with Somalian royalty.
These global exchanges at SupplySide are what keep the pulse of innovation and stewardship alive through every aspect of our botanical world.
Day 2 – SupplySide Global
