Purpose

The Indian kitchen is a riot of colours - yellow turmeric, red chilli powder, black pepper, brown ginger, white garlic and green herbs - plant products that appear on our plate as food. Paradoxically, traditional science and contemporary evidence also point to their use as medicines. Are they: Medicines or Food? This is an important distinction because in the modern world, medicines and foods for sale are regulated differently. India is home to numerous indigenous medical systems and languages, in which the names used (and therefore) identification of lesser well-known herbs, vegetables and fruits are not always well synchronised to modern taxonomic nomenclature. Motivated by the conservation of traditional knowledge and a desire to identify gaps in this domain, we sought to survey the Indian documentary evidence, and understand existing food and medicine regulations. At this workshop, we will share our major findings and discuss why this nomenclatural synchronization is important.

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Project leads: Megha, Varun Subrahmanya (TDU), Bob Allkin (RBG, Kew).

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This work was supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the UK Government.

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Intended Audience

• Academicians working in ethnobotany, nutrition, food science, agriculture, biodiversity, IKS, pharmacology, traditional medicine, AYUSH, conservation

• Policy experts working in food, medicine and AYUSH regulatory space

• Students pursuing pharmacology, botany, environmental science

• NGOs involved in documenting traditional foods and medicines.

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Program

1430 - 1435 : Welcome, Introduction to Keynote Speaker

1435 - 1505 : Keynote Speech by Dr Viswajanani Sattigeri

1505 - 1535 : Report highlights, Dr Bob Allkin

1535 - 1545 : Feedback and Quiz

1545 - 1605 : ID-ing raw drugs, Dr Noorunnisa Begum & Dr Subrahmanya Kumar

1605 - 1625 : Medicinal foods of Koraput, Dr Kartik Lenka, MSSRF

1625 - 1630 : Quiz Prize announcement and closing remarks.

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Registration

Register online:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/J8iP2cuwRrWM-7ov58OxoA

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You will receive a zoom link by email

There is no charge for this workshop.

Certificates will not be issued.

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Contact: wellness@tdu.edu.in; +91 7975651724