Sapotaceae, tropical trees under threat

Sapotaceae, the little-known tropical trees from which argan oil and shea butter are derived, are at the heart of a major conservation project led by the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de Genève. The Geneva institution recently hosted an international congress to discuss their classification, origin and, above all, strategies for preserving them. An ambitious project, launched in March 2024, combines laboratory research and field work, particularly in Madagascar, to safeguard these tropical forest giants whose wood is highly prized.