Format: ORAL

Rodrigo Cmara-Leret1, Luiz L. Saldanha1, Kim Castro1, Juan C. Copete1, Lauren Raz2, Uldarico Matap3

1 Department of Systematic & Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich. 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Bogotá, Colombia. 3 Independent researcher, Bogotá, Colombia.

INDIGENOMICSis a Swiss National Science Foundation Starting Grant (2023-2028) that aims to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing with science to address a long-standing question about the chemical traits that underpin human-plant interactions. Co-developed with the Indigenous Matap of the Colombian Amazon, we are testing hypotheses that link Matap and western ecological knowledge to better understand how plant chemistry influences the use, management, and conservation of Amazonian forests. Coupling metabolomics and Indigenous knowledge, we unravel the phytochemical space used by Indigenous communities to predict how much chemodiversity may vanish as global change accelerates across Amazonia. Supporting Indigenous elders and their apprentices,INDIGENOMICS boosts indigenous-led research to preserve the endangered knowledge of the Matap thus strengthening Indigenous contributions to science while creating opportunities that reinforce cultural heritage.