Keynote presentation on Friday evening by François Couplan
François Couplan
François Couplan is a specialist in the traditional uses of wild and cultivated plants, which he has studied across five continents. An ethnobotanist (Doctor of Science, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris; Member of the French Order of Agricultural Merit) and writer, he has been teaching the uses of wild plants in Europe and the United States since 1975 through practical field courses.
In 2008, he founded the Practical College of Ethnobotany, offering a comprehensive three-year professional training program. Since 2023, he has made this course available online, the most extensive of its kind worldwide – soon to be accessible in English (https://school.couplan.com/cours/formation-complete/ ).
The author of some 125 books, including two encyclopedias on the edible floras of Europe and North America, François Couplan has been writing about plants, cuisine, and nature since 1983. He has published over a thousand articles in various magazines and often illustrates his work with his own photographs.
Dedicated to promoting overlooked edible plants, he shares his knowledge through lectures, training programs, publications, and media appearances. Passionate about food, from the Paleolithic era to the present day, he collaborates with renowned chefs worldwide to revive forgotten flavors.
For over fifty years, François Couplan has traveled the world, exploring traditional plant uses from an anthropological perspective. He works with universities in Southeast Asia to restore the use of wild edible plants and has led similar projects in Africa, Lebanon, and Japan.
His core mission is to help individuals cultivate a personal relationship with plants, fostering self-discovery and a deeper understanding of the world. He believes this is essential for acting wisely and effectively, free from the constraints of modern cultural norms. His ambitious goal is to reshape society by restoring the rightful place of the non-human living world in our daily lives. François Couplan seeks to unite individuals and communities who share this vision and wish to explore the vast potential that plants offer at every level.
Website: www.couplan.com
François Couplan
François Couplan is a specialist in the traditional uses of wild and cultivated plants, which he has studied across five continents. An ethnobotanist (Doctor of Science, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris; Member of the French Order of Agricultural Merit) and writer, he has been teaching the uses of wild plants in Europe and the United States since 1975 through practical field courses.
In 2008, he founded the Practical College of Ethnobotany, offering a comprehensive three-year professional training program. Since 2023, he has made this course available online, the most extensive of its kind worldwide – soon to be accessible in English (https://school.couplan.com/cours/formation-complete/ ).
The author of some 125 books, including two encyclopedias on the edible floras of Europe and North America, François Couplan has been writing about plants, cuisine, and nature since 1983. He has published over a thousand articles in various magazines and often illustrates his work with his own photographs.
Dedicated to promoting overlooked edible plants, he shares his knowledge through lectures, training programs, publications, and media appearances. Passionate about food, from the Paleolithic era to the present day, he collaborates with renowned chefs worldwide to revive forgotten flavors.
For over fifty years, François Couplan has traveled the world, exploring traditional plant uses from an anthropological perspective. He works with universities in Southeast Asia to restore the use of wild edible plants and has led similar projects in Africa, Lebanon, and Japan.
His core mission is to help individuals cultivate a personal relationship with plants, fostering self-discovery and a deeper understanding of the world. He believes this is essential for acting wisely and effectively, free from the constraints of modern cultural norms. His ambitious goal is to reshape society by restoring the rightful place of the non-human living world in our daily lives. François Couplan seeks to unite individuals and communities who share this vision and wish to explore the vast potential that plants offer at every level.
Website: www.couplan.com