Thursday, 10 July 2025 A new study from the Department of Biodiversity, co-authored by Živa Fišer and Andrea Pieronia from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy

The researchers examined the current state of foraging in Slovenia and explored how knowledge about useful wild plants is transmitted today. Through interviews with experienced teachers who pass on foraging knowledge, they sought to understand their motives, educational approaches, and their role in preventing harmful practices.

The results show that the foraging community is rapidly expanding, and educational methods are becoming increasingly digital. Knowledge transfer no longer takes place within the family circle but outside of it, with social media representing an important, though sometimes ambiguous, source of information. At the same time, foraging instructors prove to be key actors in raising awareness among their audience about the importance of biodiversity, foraging ethics, and nature conservation in general. The researchers also presented their findings in June at the annual meeting of the Society of Ethnobotany in Prague.