Keynote Address: Agaves and Humans—An Affair for the Ages
The long and interconnected history between plants and humans was a pillar of Wendy Hodgson’s keynote address at our 2023 National Meeting, entitled “Agaves and Humans—An Affair for the Ages.” As Herbarium Curator Emerita & Senior Research Botanist at Desert Botanical Garden, Wendy’s expertise studying native agaves in the area made for a fascinating discussion of the role of agaves in the cultures of Indigenous Peoples north of the U.S.-Mexico border. At least six kinds of agave were domesticated and grown by pre-Columbian farmers in Arizona, and it’s possible there were up to 8 kinds or more, dating as far back as 600 A.D. Providing a glimpse into history, many relict agave clones have persisted since their cultivation in pre-Columbian cultures.
These agaves were and are a critical component of Arizona’s indigenous cultures, serving as food, fiber, and hydration. Studying these plants goes hand in hand with studying pre-Columbian nutrition, trade, migration, and agricultural practices. In Wendy’s words, “Plants, including agaves and cacti, and Indigenous People have co-adapted remarkably to living in the culturally and biologically diverse Sonoran Desert for millennia. Learning from this mutual relationship can help us meet challenges we are now facing.”
After the National Meeting concluded, Wendy led a field trip excursion for conference attendees to Arizona’s Verde Valley to view agave sites along with Andrew Salywon, Herbarium Curator and Research Botanist at Desert Botanical Garden. Whether while engaged by her keynote address or while surrounded by agaves in the Verde Valley, Wendy illustrated beautifully the long and continuing history humans share with plants.