In April 2025, a team of researchers from the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences went on an expedition to Laos thanks to the Erasmus+ KA171 programme. Ladislav Kokoška, Markéta Houdková and Mikuláš Středa participated in the research trip. Their aim was not only to collect samples of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine and samples of neglected and underutilized fruits and vegetables used to prepare local dishes, but also to establish cooperation with scientists from Savannakhet University.

The wild camel is one of the rarest large mammals on Earth, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild across Mongolia and China. Despite its extraordinary resilience, it remains critically endangered and largely unknown. Research on its behaviour, habitat use and ecology is still limited.

From June 8–12, 2025, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague hosted the Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnobotany (SEB) – a globally respected event that took place in the Czech Republic for the very first time. The conference brought together dozens of researchers, scholars, and students interested in ethnobotany, biocultural diversity, and the traditional knowledge of plants.

The program included keynote lectures, interactive workshops, poster presentations, and field trips. Teaching Tuesday featured immersive VR ethnobotany sessions and discussions on teaching innovations. The week was closed by a full day of excursions across selected cultural and botanical heritage sites in the Czech Republic.

We thank all speakers, volunteers, and attendees who made this inspiring event a success!