AHPA ERB Foundation

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) established the Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA ERB Foundation) as a 501(c)(3) foundation to promote education and research on medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs.

Support the AHPA ERB Foundation.
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Leadership

Board of Directors: Meet the AHPA ERB Foundation Board of Directors.

Endowment Fund

For 25 years, Michael McGuffin served as President of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), championing reasonable regulations, proactive self-governance, and the long-term sustainability of the herbal products industry.
The Michael McGuffin Endowment Fund — established in 2025 following Michael's passing — honors his enduring impact by fostering leadership, innovation, and knowledge to ensure a vibrant future for the botanical community.

Current Projects

	Oshá Sustainability This research involves gathering data on the location and inventory of oshá in the U.S., evaluating the sustainability of current harvest practices in southeastern Colorado and other locations, and developing best practices to ensure oshá is protected from over collection and other threats that could limit the long-term viability of this plant species.
	Goldenseal Harvest Study The purpose of this project is to improve the understanding of harvest impacts on natural and forest-farmed populations of goldenseal and to develop recommendations for harvest methods, intensities, and cultivation that support the long-term viability of this species.
	Southwest School of Botanical Medicine This project is dedicated to preserving and protecting the website of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine, originally created by its founder and principal instructor, Michael Moore.
	Myrrh Supply Chain Assessment This project seeks to address the lack of transparency and understanding of sustainability in the supply chain of myrrh resin, a valuable botanical widely used in herbal products, perfumery, and traditional medicine.

Past Projects

Sustainability and Wild Harvesting Communities in Appalachia
This project is a pilot study of an ethnographic research framework developed by the Sustainable Herbs Initiative (SHI) Wild Harvesting Working Group. The goal of the project is to document the diversity of challenges faced in ethically sourcing wild harvested plants, to identify solutions to these challenges, and to share the results with industry stakeholders.

Herbs in History

Herbs in History

In an effort to preserve and share the fascinating histories of medicinal plants and herbs that have been used around the world for ages, the AHPA ERB Foundation partnered with Alain Touwaide, Ph.D., and Emanuela Appetiti to tell the stories of Herbs in History.

AHPA Talks: ERB Foundation

January 2025 | Watch Recording

AHPA’s Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA ERB Foundation) was established as a 501(c)3 foundation to advance education, research, and best practices for the herbal products industry. The AHPA ERB Foundation accepts grant proposals from eligible applicants to enhance and promote knowledge and understanding of medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs important to commerce in the United States.

View AHPA Talks: ERB Foundation to learn more about this unique aspect of AHPA’s operations and the projects currently supported by ERB Foundation funding, including:

Oshá Sustainability: A multi-year sustainability study on oshá (Ligusticum porteri) by Kelly Kindscher, Ph.D., of the University of Kansas.
Goldenseal Harvest Study: A multi-year harvest study on goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) led by Principal Investigator Katie Commender, the Agroforestry Program Director for Appalachian Sustainable Development.
Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Supporting the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine (SWSBM) nonprofit organization’s launch of its newly updated website, SWSBM.org, led by a project team including Greta de la Montagne, Nicole Telkes, and Kelly Yarns.
Myrrh Supply Chain Assessment: This project seeks to increase transparency and gain deeper insight into the supply chain and sustainability factors of myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) resin and is led by a project team including Anjanette DeCarlo, Stephen Johnson, and Abdinasir Abdikadir.
Sustainability and Wild Harvesting Communities in Appalachia: A pilot study documenting the diversity of challenges faced in ethically sourcing wild harvested plants, identifying solutions to these challenges, and sharing the results with industry stakeholders, led by Ann Armbrecht, Director of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative.

Project Funding

Grants: The AHPA ERB Foundation accepts grant proposals on an ongoing basis from eligible applicants in order to enhance and promote knowledge and understanding of herbs important to commerce in the U.S.

Resources

Botanical Safety Handbook, 2nd Ed.: Get the essential tool for anyone who manufactures, recommends, or uses herbal products.
CITES Primer: AHPA published guidance for the herbal products industry understand the processes and practices that must be followed to comply with CITES requirements when importing and exporting species listed on CITES appendices.
Good Stewardship Brochures: See sustainable harvest brochures developed for American ginseng, oshá, saw palmetto, goldenseal, and Boswellia.

Please direct any questions about the AHPA ERB Foundation to ahpafoundation@ahpa.org.

AHPA ERB
Foundation
Donors

Cris Amarillas

Cindy Angerhofer

Thomas Brendler

Steven Dentali

Staci Eisner

James Fischer

Jackie Greenfield

Katie Huggins

Native Botanicals, Inc.

Desiree Nelson

Kristina Tucker

Roy Upton

Will Woodlee

Steven Yeager