Earlier this month, I (Bryan Fine) attended the AHPA Botanical Congress in Portland, Oregon. The trip started with the AHPA ERB Foundation dinner, which was a great opportunity to catch up with people in the industry and support the Foundation’s work promoting education and research related to medicinal and health-promoting herbs.

The two-day conference was sold out and brought together a strong mix of people from across the botanical products industry. The program covered regulatory issues, market trends, science, cultivation, sustainability, and the future of botanical ingredients.

One of the parts I enjoyed most was hearing directly from growers and wildcrafters. Their perspectives on cultivation, responsible harvesting, supply challenges, and long-term sustainability were especially interesting. It was valuable to hear from people working at the beginning of the botanical supply chain and get a better sense of some of the practical challenges they face.

The broader program covered a wide range of topics relevant to our industry, including botanical safety, regulatory priorities, emerging scientific tools, market trends, and new ingredient technologies. It was also a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, meet new people, and hear different perspectives from across the botanical community.

The event wrapped up with a guided herb walk at Hoyt Arboretum, which was a nice way to end the trip. I enjoyed getting outside, seeing some of the botanical diversity of the Pacific Northwest, and learning more about local medicinal plants and their traditional uses.

I really enjoyed the event and was glad to have the opportunity to attend. Between the conference, the ERB Foundation dinner, and the herb walk, it was a well-rounded few days and a great reminder of the depth of knowledge and experience within the botanical industry.