1st International Symposium on Artemisia

1st International Symposium on Artemisia - Arusha 2025

The inaugural edition of the International Symposium on Artemisia was held in Arusha, Tanzania, from 27 to 30 October 2025. Organised by Artemisia Connect in partnership with ISHS, it was the first-ever international scientific symposium dedicated exclusively to Artemisia research across its full spectrum - human health, animal health, agronomy and field practice.

Venue

The symposium was hosted at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), in the heart of Arusha, Tanzania - a city at the foot of Mount Meru, internationally known as the "Geneva of Africa" for its role in diplomacy and international cooperation.

Scientific Programme

The programme was structured around four thematic pillars, mirroring the scope that will continue at ISA2027:

• Human Health - malaria, anti-parasitic and antibacterial applications, emerging therapeutic uses
• Animal Health - livestock and veterinary applications
• Environmental Health - biopesticides, agroecology and sustainable cropping
• Field Practice & Figures - cultivation, quality, implementation and field data

The symposium featured plenary keynote lectures, oral and poster communications, a technical visit to local Artemisia cultivation sites, and a gala dinner. Accepted papers were published in Acta Horticulturae, the proceedings series of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).

Key Outcomes

• Landmark gathering establishing ISA as the reference event for the global Artemisia research community
• 140+ experts from 29 countries, spanning six continents
• Peer-reviewed proceedings published in Acta Horticulturae
• Strengthened networks between researchers, clinicians, agronomists and field practitioners
• Foundation for the 2nd edition - ISA2027, Tenerife, Spain

Organisers

ISA 2025 was organised by Artemisia Connect (coordinator: Arnaud Nouvion) in partnership with the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and La Maison de l'Artemisia.

Key Research Insights & Themes

Analysis of the 42 peer-reviewed papers from ISA 2025 reveals the global research landscape in Artemisia science across four key areas:

Research Priorities

• Human Health - Malaria treatment, drug resistance mitigation, emerging therapeutic applications
• Science & Innovation - Genetic engineering, phytochemistry, artemisinin optimization
• Sustainability - Agroforestry systems, biopesticide alternatives, supply chain resilience
• Animal Health - Veterinary applications, parasite control, microbiome modulation

Geographic Research Hubs

Research presented spans four distinct geographic hubs with different research specializations:

• Sub-Saharan Africa (57%) - Implementation, humanitarian response, women's empowerment in cultivation
• Western Europe & USA (21%) - Scientific validation, regulatory pathways, metabolomics research
• Asia (10%) - Genetic engineering breakthroughs, supply chain innovation, high-yield variety development
• Americas (12%) - Crop-to-pharma integration, translational research, cultivation systems

Significant Findings

The symposium documented research with significant impacts across multiple domains:

• Humanitarian Implementation - Field implementations demonstrated meaningful therapeutic outcomes in resource-limited settings and conflict zones
• One Health Integration - Multi-year models documented integrated approaches spanning human health, animal health, and environmental components
• Genetic Innovation - Development of high-yield artemisia varieties reducing cultivation requirements while improving farmer sustainability
• Scientific Mechanism - Comprehensive phytochemical mapping advancing understanding of artemisia polypharmacology
• Natural Alternatives - Fermented artemisia formulations deployed at scale as sustainable biopesticide and veterinary solutions

Target Research Communities

ISA research engaged six primary audience groups:

• Public health officials and malaria program leads
• Pharmaceutical and biotech companies
• Agribusiness and farmer organizations
• Academic researchers and scientists
• NGOs and development organizations
• Veterinary professionals and animal health practitioners

Research Gaps for ISA 2027

The 2025 proceedings identified priority areas for expanded research at ISA 2027:

• Pediatric and pregnancy safety evidence (limited clinical data)
• South Asian production systems and supply chain models (major artemisinin producers underrepresented)
• Comparative efficacy studies against conventional treatments
• Latin American cultivation and integration models
• Environmental lifecycle assessment and sustainability metrics
• Artemisia afra research parity (currently underfunded vs. A. annua)