In the fall of 2024, I had the privilege of attending the 12th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference in Bari, Italy. It was a remarkable gathering. Researchers, growers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs from around the world came together to share data, debate findings, and discuss the future of medicinal mushrooms.

One of the people I met there was Paul Stamets, a well-known mushroom guru and star of the feature film ‘Fantastic Fungi.’

Stamets told me that the next (13th) International Medicinal Mushroom Conference would be held in Seattle, Washington. Seattle is close to home ground for Stamets and his company Fungi Perfecti / Host Defense Mushrooms. It is also not far from Port Townsend, Washington, founding home and namesake of Townsend Letter. The prospect was exciting to me on several levels. It offered an opportunity to reconnect with Barbara Smith and Joy Reuther-Costa, our wonderful production team at Townsend Letter, to meet integrative practitioners in the Pacific Northwest, and to see this global field convene on American soil.

Fast forward to February 2026. I attended the Integrative Healthcare Symposium in New York City, where Stamets delivered a keynote address. His presentation was wide-ranging and thought-provoking. I will address some of the scientific themes he raised in future articles.

But what really stuck out for me when I spoke with Stamets and his partner, Pamela Kryskow, was that when I asked how plans for the Seattle conference were progressing, they told me that they were forced to cancel it, and that the conference had been relocated to Portugal.

Portugal is a fine destination. Scientifically and culturally, it is well suited to host such a meeting. That was not the issue. My immediate question was simple: Why did you have to cancel?

According to Stamets and Kryskow, the decision was driven by concerns expressed by international participants. A number of potential attendees were reluctant to travel to the United States. The hesitation was not presented as overtly political. Rather, it reflected anxiety about border and immigration enforcement interactions. Some did not want to risk the possibility of detention or prolonged questioning, even if unlikely. Given the way current conditions are, and how they are likely portrayed in international news coverage, a degree of caution is understandable. This reportedly affected not only overseas visitors but also colleagues considering travel from Canada.

There may well have been additional factors behind the relocation. Conference logistics are complex. Financial considerations, visa timelines, and institutional support all play roles. I can only report what I was told. But if even part of this explanation is accurate, it should give us pause.

Scientific conferences are not mere networking events. In fields such as medicinal mushrooms, where laboratory science intersects with clinical application, face-to-face dialogue matters. Researchers compare data. Clinicians share case experience. Industry leaders discuss quality standards and regulatory realities. International exchange strengthens methodology and tempers overstatement. It is how emerging disciplines mature.

The United States has a substantial stake in this field. American companies cultivate and extract medicinal fungi. American laboratories publish foundational work on beta-glucans, immune modulation, and fungal metabolites. American patients seek these products as adjuncts to conventional care. If global leaders in this discipline feel reluctant to convene here, that is not a trivial matter.

It raises broader questions. Are we creating an environment in which scientific collaboration feels uncertain or risky to international colleagues? Are we inadvertently isolating sectors of innovative medicine that depend on global dialogue? And what are the long-term consequences if researchers and practitioners begin to see other countries as more predictable venues for exchange?

Medicinal mushroom research is only one example. I suspect similar concerns may exist in other sectors of health, biotechnology, and integrative medicine. When travel hesitancy affects scientific gatherings, the impact extends beyond tourism revenue. It touches the core of how knowledge advances.

The relocation of a conference does not halt research. It does not silence dialogue. But it does send a signal. In a field that already faces skepticism from segments of mainstream medicine, robust international cooperation is essential.

As we look ahead, it would serve all of us, regardless of political perspective, to ensure that the United States remains a welcoming and stable venue for scientific exchange. Innovation thrives where ideas move freely and researchers feel secure in sharing them.

I look forward to a time when our international colleagues will be, not just willing, but encouraged to come to our country and participate in this important exchange of ideas.

Now, I guess I need to start thinking about travel plans to Portugal. There are worse things. #firstworldproblems

To learn more about the International Medicinal Mushroom Conference, visit https://immc13.com/