Unlocking the Relationship Between Plants and People
From the food on your plate to the medicine in your cabinet, the Society for Economic Botany has been exploring the vital connections between plants and human societies for over six decades.
Imagine a world without coffee, chocolate, or cotton. From the air we breathe to the food we eat and the medicines that heal us, plants form the foundation of human existence. The Society for Economic Botany, now known as the Society for Ethnobotany, has dedicated itself to studying these critical relationships between plants and people since its founding in 1959 1 7 .
This international community of scientists explores how human cultures use plants for food, medicine, shelter, and cultural practices, blending ancient wisdom with modern science to address some of today's most pressing challenges in conservation, sustainability, and food security 5 7 .
Economic botany is fundamentally defined as "the interaction of people with plants" 8 . It examines the practical applications of plants that often result in economic benefits, encompassing agriculture, medicine, industry, and environmental sustainability 5 .
The field is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing upon agronomy, anthropology, archaeology, chemistry, economics, forestry, genetics, medicine, nutrition, and pharmacology 5 7 . This diverse approach allows economic botanists to understand plants not just as biological entities but as cultural artifacts deeply embedded in human societies.
Economic botany integrates knowledge from multiple scientific fields to understand the complex relationships between plants and people.
As one early proponent described it, economic botany should "concern itself with basic botanical, phytochemical and ethnological studies of plants known to be useful or those which may have potential uses so far underdeveloped" 1 4 . In practice, this means economic botanists might study anything from ancient agricultural techniques to the search for new cancer-fighting compounds in rainforest plants 8 .
The official journal, Economic Botany, was founded by Edmund H. Fulling at the New York Botanical Garden 1 4 .
The Society for Economic Botany was established to bring together researchers studying plant-human interactions 1 7 .
The field traces back to early herbalists and naturalists who documented medicinal and practical plant uses in ancient civilizations like Egypt, China, and Mesopotamia 5 .
The field expanded significantly during the 16th century as European powers established botanical gardens worldwide to catalog plant species and explore their economic potential 2 5 .
The organization changed its name to the Society for Ethnobotany, reflecting the evolving terminology and emphasis within the field .
"Serve as a common meeting place for botanists interested primarily in fundamental principles and others who are concerned with economic applications of those principles and with the industrial utilization of plants and plant products."
— William J. Robbins, First Director of the New York Botanical Garden 1 4
Throughout human history, economic botany has played a crucial role in shaping civilizations, economies, and cultures 5 . The domestication of staple crops like wheat, barley, and rice between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago laid the foundation for settled societies and the rise of civilization itself 5 .
The exchange of plants between continents revolutionized agriculture and diets worldwide. Crops like potatoes, tomatoes, and maize traveled from the Americas to Europe, while wheat and sugarcane moved to the New World 5 .
Mid-20th century advances brought high-yield crop varieties, chemical fertilizers, and advanced irrigation techniques, leading to dramatic increases in global food production 5 .
The coconut palm exemplifies botanical versatility, known in Malay as pokok seribu guna or 'tree of a thousand uses' 8 . Economic botanists document how all parts of the plant are utilized:
Woven into thatch roofs and mats
Consumed as food and drink
Processed to treat dysentery and bad breath 8
This single plant provides materials for shelter, nutrition, and medicine, demonstrating the multifaceted relationships between plants and human communities that economic botanists seek to understand.
Today's economic botanists employ increasingly sophisticated tools to study plant-human interactions. While early researchers relied primarily on observation and ethnographical methods, modern scientists have a range of molecular and genetic techniques at their disposal.
Employing various DNA marker techniques to assess genetic variation directly, unaffected by environmental factors 9 .
Modern PreciseSeparating proteins into specific banding patterns; a fast method requiring small amounts of biological material but limited in resolution 9 .
Established EfficientExamining physical traits of plants, though this requires significant land resources and can be influenced by environmental conditions 9 .
Traditional VisualDocumenting traditional knowledge systems through interviews and participatory observation with indigenous communities.
Cultural Qualitative| Technique | Key Features | Applications in Economic Botany |
|---|---|---|
| RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) | Robust, locus-specific | Phylogenetic studies, crop evolution |
| RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) | Quick, requires small DNA amounts | Genetic diversity assessment, variety identification |
| SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats) | Highly polymorphic, co-dominant | Population genetics, conservation studies |
| AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) | High genomic coverage | Genetic mapping, diversity studies of little-known species |
Molecular Analysis
Biochemical Methods
Morphological Studies
Ethnographical Research
As we face unprecedented global challenges, economic botany offers valuable insights and solutions. The field has evolved from simply cataloging useful plants to addressing complex issues of sustainability, equity, and conservation.
Advances in genetic modification, CRISPR gene editing, and precision agriculture hold promise for improving crop resilience, nutritional value, and yield 5 .
As technological advancements in plant science accelerate, economic botanists emphasize the importance of ethical considerations in guiding their application 5 .
Ensuring indigenous communities benefit from their traditional knowledge
Navigating complex rights for biological resources
Preventing unauthorized commercial use of traditional knowledge
The future of economic botany lies in integrating traditional knowledge with cutting-edge science to address global challenges. As we confront climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security issues, the comprehensive understanding of plant-human relationships that economic botany provides becomes increasingly valuable.
The recent name change to the Society for Ethnobotany reflects an ongoing evolution in the field, emphasizing the cultural context of plant use while maintaining the practical focus that has always defined economic botany .
By continuing to document, understand, and preserve the intricate relationships between people and plants, economic botanists contribute to building more resilient, equitable, and sustainable futures for communities worldwide 5 .
"The quiet power of plants—not just as food or medicine, but as the foundation of economies, cultures, and sustainable futures."
— The Economic Botanist 5
As we look ahead, the work of economic botanists will be crucial in helping humanity navigate the complex interplay between environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and sustainable development—reminding us that human well-being remains inextricably linked to the plant world.