Guided by the global vision of "One Planet, One Health," the International Academy of Food and Phytomedicine Homology (IAFPH) has officially signed a research cooperation agreement with the University of Cape Verde (Uni-CV) in Africa. The signing marks the commencement of comprehensive cooperation in fields such as medicinal plant development, the modernization of traditional medicine, and the advancement of agro-industry. Furthermore, it signifies the successful implementation of IAFPH’s distinctive Joint Research Unit (JRU) model.

Mr. Feng Shixing, Representative of the IAFPH, and Professor José Arlindo Fernandes Barreto, President of the University of Cape Verde, jointly signed the cooperation agreement.

The agreement links the IAFPH headquarters in Paris, the Uni-CV in Africa, and Henan University of Chinese Medicine and Henan Agricultural University in China, establishing a "France-Africa-China" tripartite research synergy. It further delineates five specific research directions for collaborative scientific breakthroughs, demonstrating a highly systematic approach to cooperation:

• WP1: Compliance & Resource Access – Analyzing Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanisms for plant resources under the Nagoya Protocol to ensure legal transparency in international research.
• WP2: Research Sovereignty & Talent Cultivation – Conducting botanical, chemical, and pharmacological identification, focusing on expanding the JRU network and establishing an African research grid to enhance local scientific autonomy.
• WP3: Economic Value Transformation – Leveraging technical solutions to support agro-industry and improve traditional medicine quality. This pillar emphasizes economic viability and social inclusion, particularly supporting employment and social participation for local women to drive regional poverty reduction and sustainable development.
• WP4: Consumer Safety Assurance – Establishing quality and safety standards to ensure official accreditation for products used by healthcare providers and consumers.
• WP Transversal: Frontier Technology Integration – A key highlight integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into ethnobotanical analysis, while prioritizing biodiversity, sustainability, and female participation to create an eco-friendly industrial loop.

A highlight of the signing ceremony was the confirmation of the "4th Traditional Medicine Forum" (4.ªs Jornadas das Medicinas Tradicionais). This prestigious international academic event follows three successful editions held in Marrakesh, Morocco (2022), Dakar, Senegal (2023), and Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (2024). After achieving significant milestones across Africa, the forum will make its debut in China in 2026. The event will convene members of the JRU platform alongside experts, scholars, and industry groups from Europe, Africa, and Asia to collectively explore pathways for the modernization of traditional medicine.        

In alignment with the newly signed cooperation agreement, the 2026 summit will focus on cutting-edge topics such as the application of Artificial Intelligence in ethnobotanical analysis, global practices of the "Food as Medicine" concept, and consumer safety protection. This event is more than an academic conference; it serves as a premier international platform for a profound dialogue between traditional medical solutions and modern global technology.