AHPA Talks

AHPA Talks are a new virtual education series by AHPA. Each session, industry experts will lead informal, open discussions on timely topics of relevant to members and the wider dietary supplement and natural product communities, inviting participants to ask questions, share their perspectives, and learn from colleagues.


Upcoming AHPA Talks

Coming soon! Check back for updates.


On-Demand AHPA Talks

 

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.


AHPA Talks: Psychedelics
June 2024 | Watch Recording: Part 1 | Part 2

Psychedelic plants and fungi and at least one animal-derived agent and their preparations have significantly impacted human culture and history around the world. Considered sacred since ancient times, psychedelics have a rich history for healing, divination, spiritual realization, and overall expansion of consciousness.
 
Drawing upon decades of experience and ethnobotanical exploration in this field, Chris Kilham presents a 2-part virtual series on his experiences with LSD, ayahuasca, magic mushrooms, cannabis, peyote, San Pedro cactus, and Bufo toad secretion. In these information-packed sessions, Chris shares up-to-date information on psychedelics, personal accounts, and rare images from his travels.
 
Topics covered will include:

  • What constitutes a psychedelic

  • How psychedelics re-wire the brain

  • How psychedelics fit into indigenous cultures

  • Why people use psychedelics

Substances discussed in Part 1:

  • LSD

  • Ayahuasca

  • Magic mushrooms

Substances discussed in Part 2:

  • Cannabis

  • ​Peyote

  • San Pedro cactus

  • Bufo toad secretion


AHPA Talks: Good Agricultural & Collection Practices (GACPs)
May 2024
 | Watch Recording

AHPA's Guidance on Good Agricultural and Collection Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices for Botanical Materials (GACP-GMPs) and accompanying assessment tools provide a template for wild harvesters, small and large growers, and ingredient suppliers and manufacturers to implement and document best practices. Botanical agricultural, collection and manufacturing practices have wide-ranging impacts on product quality, native and regional communities, and the environment.

View AHPA Talks: GACPs to learn more about how to best use these valuable tools from AHPA members and staff who were instrumental in the creation of the GACPs and their recent updates to include sustainability considerations.

The discussion also includes breakout rooms to address different parts of industry that may use the GACPs including:

  • Wild collectors and growers/farmers/cultivators

  • Ingredient suppliers, ingredient manufacturers and herb buyers

  • Sustainability team members