The coca bush has long been valued as a medicine, spiritual and communal aid, and daily stimulant, making it one of the oldest and most culturally significant crops in South America. It is also the natural source of cocaine— a global commodity at the center of a turbulent sociopolitical landscape. This talk examines coca’s botanical origins, identity, and complex history in both traditional and global contexts. I will present new scientific insights into its evolutionary history, medicinal properties, and nutritional value. This evidence is central to the World Health Organization’s current Critical Examination of coca’s health effects, which is a pivotal opportunity to reshape its perception, regulation, and global use. By integrating botanical, historical, and policy perspectives, this discussion will peel away the stigma and reframe coca as a useful plant of enduring significance in human societies.
*** Coffee will be available since 11.30 am ***
Speaker: Dawson M. White, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow of the Harvard University Herbaria)
Sponsors: RCCHU; Harvard University
LOCATION:RCCHU Conference Room STATUS:CONFIRMED DTSTART:20250314T160000Z DTEND:20250314T170000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR