Society for Ethnopharmacology, India (SFE-India)

Society for Ethnopharmacology, India (SFE-India) is a registered society constituted by eminent academicians, researchers, industrialists, and other stakeholders, inspired by the Respected Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, who inaugurated the First Indian Ethnopharmacology Congress in 2012 and established SFE India. The main motto of the Society is the dissemination of knowledge on Natural Health Products through the “Globalisation of local knowledge and localising Global Technologies”.

SFE-India promotes discussion and research on key areas of natural product research, particularly the Indian traditional knowledge system, with special emphasis on Indian Traditional medicine. Founded by Prof Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, the Society for Ethnopharmacology has been committed to bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary science since its inception in 2012. Through national and international conferences, workshops, policy dialogues, and capacity-building initiatives, SFE-India has worked tirelessly to promote ethnopharmacological research.

It facilitates the integration of modern global knowledge into traditional remedies, quality assurance, trade, commerce, and herbal drug development, enabling the upgradation of local and traditional expertise through regular seminars, workshops, conferences, etc. To promote knowledge dissemination, the Society publishes the international journal Systems Ethnopharmacology & Sustainable Bioresources (SESB), published by Elsevier, USA; newsletters, documents, and books; and also offers scholarships and awards to deserving students, scientists, and traditional healers.

The mission of the Society is the promotion and development of traditional medicine and medicinal plants through the dissemination of knowledge and development of collaboration and cooperation with its vision on: “Globalising local knowledge and localising global technologies.”

To accomplish its mission and vision, the Society has 18 local chapters across different regions of India, each with active leadership led by coordinators. SFE, India has so far organised over 65 scientific programs including 25 International Congress and conventions; 32 traditional healers' meet; 15 business meet with Industry connect (i-connect) and Industry academia interaction program; several capacity building and training programs joining with various organisation throughout India and also other countries like Bangladesh, Thailand etc., accommodating around 20,000 delegates from India and abroad.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam inaugurating the 1st Ethnopharmacology congress in India in the presence of Dr. Luc Montagnier, Nobel laureate in Medicine at Science City, Kolkata in 2012.