Exploring the reasons behind the Belgian prohibition of the commercialization of the plant Artemisia annua.

Abstract

This paper explores the prohibition of the commercialization of the plant Artemisia annua for fighting malaria through three political ecology concepts. Firstly, from the perspective of epistemic coloniality, the power/knowledge dimension is highlighted as key to understand how the scientific knowledge produced in the West renders invisible whatever is outside that canon (among which the Artemisia annua tea infusion). Secondly, using a technocratic lens, I identify a techno-elite composed by companies and individuals which intensively promote the standard drugs (ACTs) at the expense of the traditional tea infusion, and that for profitability reasons. Finally, through the logic of commodification of nature, I argue that the Artemisia annua tea infusion struggles to reach scientific validity because it is not (yet) profitable enough to acquire that status.