The International Symposium on Edible & Medicinal Plant Resources and Bioactive Ingredients (ISEPR) is a biennial academic forum initiated by the Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XTIPC, CAS), with strong institutional support from CAS. ISEPR brings together scientists, researchers, industry professionals and policymakers from around the world to exchange cutting-edge research, foster collaboration, and promote sustainable development in the field of edible and medicinal plants.

The Organizing Committee of the 9^th Edible & Medicinal Plant Resources and Bioactive Ingredients has decided to hold the Symposium in Kashi, Xinjiang, from May 8 to 10, 2026. The committee hopes this event will serve as an opportunity to significantly advance the development of edible and medicinal plant resources in central and western China, deepen industry–academia–research collaboration between China and all over the world, especially countries in Central and West Asia, and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative and the growth of the global health industry.

The ISEPR 2026 will be held from 8 to 10 May 2026 in Kashi, China, co-organized by XTIPC, CAS, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Kashi University. Building on the success of previous symposia, ISEPR 2026 aims to strengthen scientific cooperation along the Belt and Road Initiative and advance the global health and green economy through innovation in plant-based resources.

Theme for the symposium

u The Health Industry Development on The Belt and Road (“一带一路”大健康产业发展)

Topic for the symposium

u Resource chemical research and value discovery on edible plants

u Identification and decoration of active ingredients in edible plants

u New methodologies of identification and molecular biology researches on the active ingredients from edible plants

u Functional material bases and active mechanism of edible plants

u Production, process, standardization and functional product development from edible plants

u Resource recycling utilization and greening of industry development of edible plants

Basic Information of the Symposium

u Date: May 8 to 10, 2026

u Site: Kashi, China

u Languages: English, Chinese

u Chairman: AISA Haji Akber (Xinjiang Medical University/Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS), TSIM Wah-Keung Karl (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), YAO Guang-Min (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

u Host Unit: Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS; The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kashi University, Uyghur Medicine Hospital of Kashi Prefecture

u Organizer: Shenzhen Research Institute of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; College of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Kashi University; Central Asian Drug Discovery, Development Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences; China-Uzbekistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on New Drug

u Co-organizer: Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Kashi Prefecture; Kashi Vocational and Technical College; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University

Form of the Symposium

u Plenary lectures (30-minute)

u Oral presentations and discussion (15-minute)

Schedule

Registration

Each participant is required to complete and submit one copy of the Registration Form to the Symposium Organizing Committee by March 31, 2026.

The registration fee includes the Conference Proceedings and a banquet dinner. Participants are responsible for covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. Please complete your registration and make your travel arrangements at your earliest convenience.

Accommodation

To assist participants with lodging arrangements, the organizers have secured discounted rates at the following hotels. Rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please book early to guarantee availability.

Official Conference Hotel: Laining Hotel, Kashi

Contact

Both the Registration Form and the abstract must be submitted to the Secretariat of the Symposium’s Academic Committee by March 31, 2026.

For inquiries regarding registration or abstract submission, please contact the Organizing Committee:

u Contacts: Ms DONG Ting-Xia (HKUST)

u Email: botina@ust.hk

u Contacts: Ms. JIANG Lan (XJTIPC)

u Email: jianglan@ms.xjb.ac.cn

We warmly look forward to welcoming you to the historic city of Kashi for ISEPR 2026!

Annex I Registration Form.docx

Annex II Abstract template.docx