Ethnophytotechnology: Harnessing the power of ethnobotany with biotechnology ($)

De la Parra and Quave describe the fascinating intersection of ethnobotany and biotechnology, which they define as ethnophytotechnology: “the use of plant biotechnology to improve or enhance the inherent economic or culturally valuable traits of plants as described and influenced by ethnobotany”. They observe that by applying modern tools to “thousands of years of indigenous knowledge,” drug discovery and production can be accelerated. They describe synergies between biotechnology and ethnobotany at every stage of drug development, from choosing plant material to optimizing production, and they identify opportunities for further development of the ethnophytotechnology strategy. Trends Biotechnol. 10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.07.003