Herbal Medicine and Functional Food Innovation (Zurich)
On February 14, 2025, the Swiss Chinese Herbal Medicine and Functional Food Innovation Center (SwissHerbs.Org), in collaboration with the Mass Spectrometry – Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich (UZH), Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Academic Association of Chinese Medicine in Switzerland, and the Organics International – IFOAM Asia (Suzhou) Training Centre, successfully hosted the 2025 International Conference on Herbal Medicine and Functional Food Innovation (HMFF Conference 2025, Zurich) at the Irchel Campus of the University of Zurich. This conference is also a part of Swiss Scientific Week 2025 (SSW25).
This conference aimed to enhance understanding of the traditional medicinal plants of the Swiss Alps, promote the high-quality utilization and innovative development of classical theories and modern practices in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and functional foods, and strengthen the capacity for developing region-specific medicinal plants in mountainous ecosystems.
Scholars, clinical experts in Chinese medicine, and organic certification specialists from China, Switzerland, and Germany gathered to discuss cutting-edge research progress, clinical applications, and market prospects under three key themes:
- Research and Development of Homology of Medicine and Food Products & Their Pharmacological Foundations
- Development and Market of Alpine Herbal Functional Foods
- Green Organic Agriculture Cultivation Techniques and Promotion
After the conference, participants visited the Mass Spectrometry Center of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Zurich and the Swiss Organic Agriculture Research Institute (FiBL).
Highlights of the Conference
During the conference, distinguished scholars from around the world delivered insightful keynote speeches, sharing their latest research findings and industry analysis.
Prof. Laurent Bigler, Head of the Mass Spectrometry and General Analytical Services at the
Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Dr. Jacques G. Fuchs, Permanent Chairman of the Academic Committee of the SwissHerbs and a researcher at the FiBL, Qiyan Wang-Mueller, Co-Founder, President, Senior Scientist and Academic Committee Member of SwissHerbs delivered the opening speeches.
Professor Patrick Nijs, former Belgian Ambassador to China and co-founder of the EU-China Joint Innovation Center (EUCJIC), gave the opening address and presented a special report on “Two Wild Artemisia Species from the Kunming Kabissa Farm.” (http://www.kabissa.cn/)
Professor Qiao Yuhui, Director of the International Organic Agriculture Asia Alliance (Suzhou) Training Center and a professor at China Agricultural University, discussed the production and trade status of organic Chinese herbal medicine in China, using goji berries as an example.
Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine had also set up a sub-venue. Professor Liu Qian, Vice Dean of the School of Pharmacy, gave a specialized presentation on Salvia miltiorrhiza deep processing, industrial upgrading key technologies, and scientific demonstration.
Professor Qiao Fei from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, who specializes in analyzing the biosynthetic pathways of functional active ingredients in medicinal plants and developing plant cell fermentation technology, shared his latest research on “Development of Bloodroot Alkaloid Plant Cell Fermentation Technology.”
Dr. Lin Ling, President of the Swiss Chinese Medicine Association (VCACMS), delivered a bilingual (Chinese-German) lecture on the dietary theory of the “Five Flavors” in medicine-food homology, focusing on its clinical and practical significance.
Pharmacist Zhao Huili from LIAN CHINAHERB, a Swiss-based Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) company, analyzed the development progress and current status of the TCM industry in Switzerland, using LIAN CHINAHERB as an example.
Dr. Nina Zhao-Seiler, a TCM practitioner and social advocate, initiated and established Switzerland’s first herbal medicine botanical garden. She presented on the establishment and development of the herbal garden at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and its role in TCM education and awareness in Switzerland.
After lunch, conference participants visited the Mass Spectrometry Research Center of the University of Zurich, where Professor Laurent Bigler elaborated on mass spectrometry techniques and their scientific value in the analysis of medicinal plant compounds.
Prof. Jonathan Wong, Academician of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Founder and Director of the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre, delivered a welcome speech and provided an in-depth analysis of the latest developments in Hong Kong’s organic market, offering valuable industry insights for researchers and entrepreneurs in herbal medicine.
Mr. Fu Ruiyun, Director of the Comprehensive Business Department at the China Certification & Accreditation Association and Senior Engineer, provided an in-depth analysis of China’s organic product certification and the market trends in organic industry development.
Dr. Xi Yunguan, Deputy Chief Engineer at the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, discussed the 30-year development journey of China’s organic food industry based on his books “30 Years of China’s Organic Food” and “30 Years of China’s Organic Tea.”
Dr. Jacques Fuchs, one of the authors of the “Swiss Federal Compost Quality (Standard) Guidelines” and founder of Biophyt, a Swiss organic company, presented a research report on Swiss compost products and their application in crop disease control.
Dr. Qiyan Wang-Mueller, Co-founder and Director of the SwissHerbs.Org, together with Ernst Maurer and Marianne Maurer, founders of Biogemüse MAURER, introduced one of Switzerland’s largest and most renowned organic farms—the Biogemüse MAURER Organic Farm in Bern.
Mr. Franz Steiner, a veteran Swiss agronomist, Swiss-EU organic certification expert, and international quality management (QM) expert, discussed the latest trends in Swiss organic food imports and exports.
Following the conference, Franz Steiner led participants on a visit to FiBL (Frick), the Swiss Organic Agriculture Research Institute, where he provided an overview of FiBL’s historical contributions, scientific research, and societal impact on organic agriculture and organic product promotion in Switzerland. FiBL staff also introduced participants to their organic wine cellar, allowing them to sample FiBL’s own organic wines.
Post-Conference Activities
The following day, Franz Steiner guided several participants on an on-site exploration of the University of Zurich’s Irchel Campus and Zurich’s biodiversity.
In the afternoon, Dr. Wang Qiyan provided a detailed explanation of Polygonatum tea (Huangjing tea) and Chinese organic jujube, including their organic certification process managed by the Swiss Institute for Herbal Innovation.
On the afternoon of the 17th, international students from the University of Fribourg and the University of Bern, along with TCM physicians, visited the Biogemüse MAURER organic farm in Bern. Led by the farm’s founder, Mr. Maurer, they toured the farm and learned about organic cultivation as well as the production process of organic vegetables and fruits.
With a history of 45 years, the farm covers approximately 18 hectares (about 44.5 acres) and has a greenhouse area of 10,000 square meters. It is one of the largest and most renowned organic farms in Switzerland.
The conference was supported by Herbal Innovation Swiss GmbH, Organic Food Development and Certification Center of China (OFDC), Swiss-Sino Association for Traditional Chinese Medicine (SSATCM), Green Bridge Association, Kunming Zhongru Agricultural Science and Technology Co., LTD. The conference not only facilitated academic exchanges but also laid the foundation for future research collaborations and business partnerships. Attendees expressed that the conference was insightful and beneficial, and they look forward to strengthening collaboration in future research and industry development.
Contact Information:
Feuerweg 34 | 8046 Zürich | Switzerland
Phone: +41 78 621 99 70
Website: swissherbs.org
