Arshad Mehmood Abbasi, PhD, COMSATS University, Pakistan
Muhammad Abdul Aziz, PhD, Independent Researcher, Pakistan
Dauro Mattia Zocchi, PhD, University of Bergamo, Italy
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine is calling for submissions to our Collection on "Food heritage and food ethnobiology".
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Arshad Mehmood Abbasi, PhD, COMSATS University, Pakistan
Dr. Arshad Mehmood Abbasi is Professor (Associate) at Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus-Pakistan. Dr. Abbasi received his PhD in Plant Sciences with specialization in Ethnobotany and Nutraceuticals from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad-Pakistan and did Post Doctorate from China in Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. Dr. Abbasi research is mainly focused on exploration, diversity, utilization and functional properties of food, medicinal, and aromatic plants in the Himalayan region in Pakistan, Traditional food and health care systems of mountain communities and food toxicology.
To date Dr. Abbasi has authored >180 research articles in peer reviewed journals with ˃ 8000 citations, 52 h-index and i10-index 131. He has authored three international books published by Springer, and ˃ 55 book chapters. Dr. Abbasi has been included three times among the top 2% most influential scientists of the world by Stanford (2022, 2023, 2024); Awarded three times Outstanding Researcher Awards by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, three times Best Researcher Awards and many Research Productivity Awards by COMSATS; Foreign Expert Certificate by Chinese Government, along with many other national and international honors and certificates. Dr. Abbasi has established is serving as editor and reviewer of several journals of international repute published by Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, Taylor & Francis, etc. Dr. Abbasi is also member of International Society of Ethnobiology; American Chemical Society (ASC), Society of Ethnobiology University of North Texas, USA; APIFP Champion: Asia Pacific Institute of Food Professionals, and Gastronomic Society, Italy.
Muhammad Abdul Aziz, PhD, Independent Researcher, Pakistan
Dr. Muhammad Abdul Aziz is an ethnobotanist and independent researcher whose work bridges ecological sciences, biocultural heritage, and education. He holds a PhD in Ecogastronomy, Education, and Society and is deeply engaged in revitalizing local plant knowledge and sustainable food practices, especially among minority communities.
As the director of Crestwood School in Dera Ismail Khan, Dr. Aziz promotes an innovative approach to education by integrating nature-based and environmental learning into the curriculum. He leads students in immersive activities such as outdoor hands-on activities, storytelling rooted in local ecology, plant and leaf collection.
His academic research focuses on documenting traditional ecological knowledge systems through ethnobotanical and ecological fieldwork. He is actively involved in long-term projects across Eastern Europe and Asia, conducting vegetation surveys and working closely with local communities to explore sustainable practices that support food security, health, and environmental conservation. He has been with diverse research groups across EU and Asia.
Dr. Aziz is also a dedicated member of various national and international scientific societies, and he currently serves on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals in the fields of ethnobotany, plant ecology, and sustainability. His contributions include peer reviewing, guiding early-career researchers, and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue within the scientific community.
He regularly delivers workshops and training sessions on ethical and effective practices in ethnobotanical research, emphasizing respectful collaboration with communities, especially in Pakistan, where ethical concerns and methodological gaps often arise in student research.
Through social media outreach and public engagement, Dr. Aziz highlights the vital role of traditional knowledge in addressing today’s ecological challenges. His work aims to inspire educators, researchers, NGOs, and policymakers to value and integrate bioculturally informed environmental education into mainstream systems.
Dauro Mattia Zocchi, PhD, University of Bergamo, ItalyDauro Mattia Zocchi is a gastronome with extensive experience in the study of the dynamics of recognition, safeguarding, and promotion of food heritage. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecogastronomy, Education, and Society from the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, where he developed a research project focused on the social and cultural dynamics related to the protection and promotion of “marginalized and endangered foods” and their associated heritage.
His main research interests include food geography, food scouting, and the promotion of food heritage in emerging countries. He has conducted several research projects in Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) and Latin America (Peru and Bolivia), mapping and documenting local food heritages and studying the dynamics of their recovery and promotion.
He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in Economic and Political Geography within the Horizon Europe CROCUS project (Cross-Border Cultural and Creative Tourism in Rural and Remote Areas), which addresses the socio-economic challenges of rural and remote areas through the promotion of cultural and creative tourism.
We are pleased to announce a call for papers for a new article Collection in JEET, focusing on the multifaceted topic of "Food heritage and food ethnobiology". This Collection aims to explore the rich and diverse intersections of food, culture, and biology, and we invite contributions that delve into the following thematic areas:
- Folk-Food Medicines: Investigations into traditional food-based remedies and their roles in cultural practices, health, and community well-being. We welcome studies that document, analyze, and interpret the use of food as medicine across different cultures and historical periods.
- Food Heritagisation Process: Analyses of how certain foods and culinary practices become recognized and preserved as cultural heritage. Papers may explore the mechanisms, policies, and social dynamics involved in the heritagisation process, including the roles of institutions, communities, and individuals.
- Educational Ethnobiology/Ethnoecology: Research on the educational aspects of ethnobiology and ethnoecology, particularly how knowledge about food and ecological relationships is transmitted across generations. Contributions may address formal and informal educational practices, curriculum development, and the impact of education on food heritage preservation.
We encourage submissions from a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to anthropology, ecology, biology, history, and education. Interdisciplinary approaches that bridge these fields are particularly welcome.
There are currently no articles in this collection.
This Collection welcomes submission of original research and review articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal.
Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. Please, select the appropriate Collection title “Food heritage and food ethnobiology" under the “Details” tab during the submission stage.
Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.
The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer-review process. The peer-review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.