Tanzania to Host Landmark Global Symposium on Artemisia

Arusha, Tanzania – October 1, 2025 — More than 100 leading scientists and policymakers from over 30 countries will gather in Arusha next week (October 8–10) for the first-ever International Symposium on Artemisia, underscoring Tanzania’s growing role in global health and environmental innovation.

The event, hosted at the Aga Khan University’s Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre (AKU-ACER), will spotlight the plant Artemisia, long valued as a natural treatment for malaria and now being studied for wider applications, including tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, animal health, and sustainable farming.

“This symposium is more than a scientific exchange; it is a call to action,” said Dr. François Laurens, President of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), one of the co-hosts alongside the Aga Khan Foundation and Maison de l’Artemisia.

African and global experts, including Prof. Francine Ntoumi (Congo-Brazzaville), Prof. Joseph Ndunguru (Tanzania), and Prof. Pamela Weathers (USA), will present the latest findings.

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health welcomed the gathering, with Permanent Secretary Dr. Seif Shekalaghe noting: “This event not only elevates Tanzania as a hub for scientific innovation but also reflects our commitment to sustainable solutions that safeguard health, environment, and development.”

Participants are expected to call for large-scale clinical trials to confirm Artemisia’s safety and effectiveness, a key step toward integrating the plant into mainstream medicine and agriculture.