ECHO International Agriculture Conference Presentations

2023

Presentation Slides

2023 Presentations - ECHO International Agriculture Conference

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Agriculture and Business: Farming Principles from Jacob Springs Farm - Andre Houssney - Andre Houssney

Andre Houssney has years of experience with farming and business both internationally and domestically. He currently operates and makes his living off Jacob Springs Farm located in Boulder, Colorado. He will be sharing his journey and learnings from life experiences connected to Agriculture,...

Building Resilience Against Hunger through Animal Agriculture - Dr. Lee Myers

Dr. Lee Myers joined Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) as the Chief Executive Officer in January 2022. While on her second CVM short-term mission trip to Mongolia (1997), her teammate, Dr. Billy Myers, proposed and they were married shortly thereafter. The Myers have led CVM student...

Basic Utility Vehicle (BUV) - The Cameroon Experience - Silas Nfor

Basic Utility Vehicle (BUV). Reflections and learnings from the field. The speaker is from Cameroon and has owned and operated BUVs since 2016. He primarily uses them for farm-to-market transport and as a platform to share the Gospel. He intends to make many more BUVs available in Cameroon...

Hands On: Low Code/No Code - Project/Farm Management with Simple Apps - Stephen Peacock

In this session, participants can start building a project/farm tracking app from scratch using low code / no code tools. It is recommended that you attend the previous session from 1:30 to 2:30. Be sure you have a Google account (Gmail account) before attending this session. You will need...

From Mary to Mars - Dr. Philip Deal

Philip has worked in the rural water sector for 10 years, supporting projects across sub-Saharan Africa. His early years were spent with local WASH programs in Oklahoma City, such as Wishing Well and Rwandans4water. In 2015, Philip began partnering with Water4 through the University of...

Innovations in Natural Farming - Keith Mikkelson

Keith will be whetting your appetite for a Korean Natural Farming and JADAM that will be covered in more detail on Friday November 10th in the post conference workshop. He will go over some basic recipes you can make for remineralizing your soil and creating a vermicast microbial solution....

Infonet-Biovision: Farmer Information Platform for Promoting Sustainable Development and Organic Agriculture in Africa - Charei Munene

This presentation showcases Infonet-Biovision, an online platform that promotes ecological technologies and organic agriculture in Africa. Initiated in 2005 by Biovision Foundation in Zurich, Infonet provides scientifically validated information related to plant, animal, human, and...

Tropical Plant Pathology: from diagnostics to management - Dr. Romina Gazis

Romina is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC), University of Florida. Her long-term research goal is to understand the biology behind different plant diseases affecting local industries and natural landscapes and use...

Videos

2023 Videos - ECHO International Agriculture Conference

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An Introduction to ECHO - Abram Bicksler, Ph.D.

Session : Abram Bicksler gives clear picture of what ECHO is doing and how we are carrying out our Vision of a transformed world honoring God, by our Mission "Strengthening the capacity of a diverse global network to defeat hunger and improve lives through sustainable food and agroecosystem...

Building Resilience Against Hunger Through Animal Agriculture - Lee Myers, Ph.D.

Presenter : Dr. Lee Myers joined Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) as the Chief Executive Officer in January 2022. While on her second CVM short-term mission trip to Mongolia (1997), her teammate, Dr. Billy Myers, proposed and they were married shortly thereafter. The Myers have led CVM...

Tropical Plant Pathology - Romina Gazis, PhD

Summary : The plenary presentation will touch on topics such as: basics of abiotic/biotic damage basics of Integrated Pest Management visual examples of pests and diseases that may be found in tropical fruits and vegetables Laurel Wilt that affects avocados Dr. Gazis will also be...

Natural Farming Systems and Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics - Keith Mikkelson

Summary : Keith’s plenary presentation is entitled Innovations in Natural Farming — Learnings from Aloha House in the Philippines.  He will also facilitate a one day post-conference workshop at the ECHO Global Farm on November 10.  The workshop will include the Science, Rumors, and Improvements...

2022

Presentation Slides

2022 Presentations - ECHO International Agriculture Conference

Return to the list of all past Conferences

UN Agencies - Friend or Foe? - Abram Bicksler, PhD

Session : What do large UN and governmental agencies have to offer small agencies, NGOs and local NGOs? Having worked in both a small organization and with FAO, Bicksler will bring a fresh perspective on the assets each provides to the other. Bicksler will provide real-life, practical, and...

Smallholders Leading in Dietary Diversity: Approaches and Case Studies from IFAD’s Investments. - Joyce Njoro

Session : The presentation covers the approaches used by IFAD to support smallholder farmers and the most nutritionally vulnerable to achieve dietary diversity. This includes efforts to increase production, access to markets, and consumption of nutrient dense foods such as vegetables, fruits,...

The Vetiver System: A Toolkit in Support of Community-Led, Climate Change Adaptation. - Jim Smyle

Session : Poor rural communities in the Global South need practical and affordable means to adapt and prosper given the huge challenges posed by climate change. Public sector-driven, “planned adaptation” initiatives simply will not reach most of them in time. The scale of the problem is too big....

What Do You Want 'It' to Look Like in 10 Years? - Jack Shoemaker

Session : I have been thinking a lot about the question, How do you prune a tree? The answer that has emerged in my mind is, What do you want it to look like in 10 years? There is a parable about pruning, in which everyone gets pruned, whether they are productive or not. But there are many...

Growing Cycles of Peaches and other Temperate and Tropical Fruits - Marcie Dallman

Session : This presentation focuses on a case study of growing peaches in the Southeastern US, and its application to other fruit crops. Points addressed in this presentation include, but are not limited to: Peach Production Worldwide Growing Peaches in South Carolina, US Flowering and...

Food Management Groups - Nate Gray

Session: A Session on Community-Saving Grains. Topics explored in this session include: A description of a Savings Group program in West Africa Food management groups in light of a hunger problem Why should farmers go in debt to buy back their own food? Adequate Storage Storgae...

Mental Health in Disaster Relief - Lisa Ramsey, Ph.D

Session : This session goes over four principles of disaster mental health: Collaboration of Community Partners, Communication and Relationship Building, Vulnerability of Community Populations, and Understanding Trauma.

Community Water Systems - Robert Walle

Session : This session includes the importance of community participation in setting up Water Systems. Presenter : Robert joins ECHO as the Agricultural Technical Writer. He graduated from the University of Florida and the PanAmerican Agricultural College and has a Masters in Soil and Water...

What Sustaining Equipment Can Help the Most at Your Mission? - Mark Fisher

Session : Lessons learned from small farm equipment in the field. Topics to be covered: What sustaining equipment can help the most at you mission. Church missions as equipment lending centers. Multi-use farm cart. Equipment as checked baggage. Asking for your vote to inform what...

Cassinia Environmental: Integrating Environmental, Social, and Agricultural Outcomes - Sarah LePage

Session: Learn a model of combining regenerative agriculture, re-vegetation, and biodiversity protection in order to protect, restore and reconnect ecosystems to create healthy, connected and productive landscapes where people and nature flourish.

Urine as Fertilizer - Dan Janzen

Session : This session goes over facts for the use of human urine as fertilizer, the safety considerations for the use of urine, Reducing risk, social, stigma, cropping system, regimented service functions, application systems, and more. Presenter : Missionary working in South Sudan with...

Make your own Temperature / Humidity Monitor - Tim Motis, PhD

Session : This presentation includes the instruction and benefits of using inexpensive components and freely available software to make your own temperature and humidity monitor. Some of the points in this presentation include: Applications Why build your own? A few...

Insects and Integrated Pest Management - Annie D.

Session : In this session we'll begin with an indoor presentation talking through the basics of entomology and insect behavior as it relates to managing insect pests in settings ranging from a home garden to a larger farm. Following that we'll explore ways that we can control insects using a...

Management Can Be Learned - Martin Price, PhD

Session : Everyone becomes a manager whether they want to or not; whether it's a small committee or large business. And yes, it even applies to working in agriculture!

Musser Fruit Research Center: An Overview of Current Research - Marcie Dallman

Session: Clemson University’s Musser Fruit Research Center conducts a variety of research centered on peaches, hosts a peach breeding program and one of the three National Clean Plant Network centers. Topics covered will include disease management through cultural methods and breeding, the role...

Servant Leadership (DAI) - Jane Overstreet, PhD and Harold Overstreet

Session : The speaker will provide more information about the DAI certificate and degree programs. Topics discussed in this sesion include: Leadership Matters What is the key to effective sustainable change? Who DAI Works With DAI at Work, Equipping Leaders Presenter : Jane...

American Friends Asian Rural Institute - Sherry DeLeon

Session : AFARI community-based learning rooted in agriculture integrates foodlife, education, climate action, and organizational resilience to contribute towards a peaceful world. Learn about Asain missions through AFARI.

Meeting Needs with Service: Improving Livelihoods of Smallholders Through Service - Marjatta Eilitta

Session : Developing country smallholder farmers need information on technologies and practices that will sustainably increase their yields – but they also need inputs and profitable markets for their products. The USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program strongly focuses on farmer...

International Transitions - Ellen Hargrave

Session : This workshop will be a time to discuss the various stages of transitioning from one culture to another and healthy ways to manage these transitions.

Unlocking the Power of Genetics - New Crop Selection for Gardens and Farms - Josh Jamison

Session : Topics addressed in this session include: Cody Cove Farm and Nursery A Tragic Paradox Embracing Diversity, Reseilient Agricultural Communities Reasons for Seeking Out New Crop Species and Varieties Examples of the Power of New Crops Tools for New...

Videos

2022 Videos - ECHO International Agriculture Conference

Return to the list of all past Conferences

UN Agencies - Friend or Foe?

Smallholders Leading in Dietary Diversity: Approaches and Case Studies from IFAD’s Investments

The Vetiver System: A Toolkit in Support of Community-Led, Climate Change Adaptation.

Meeting Needs with Service: Improving Livelihoods of Smallholders Through Service

2021

Virtual Conference

2021 Videos - ECHO International Agriculture Conference

The 2021 International Agriculture Conference continued the tradition of featuring leading voices in various aspects of agricultural development—practitioners, scientists, and community leaders. Content was presented in plenary and concurrent breakout sessions, with ample opportunities to network with each other, as past participants have come to know and expect.

The differences: No visa required, no travel, no hotel! Lower cost, more people, more perspectives! Attendees can also host or attend viewing parties with other delegates with similar interests or working in common regions or locations.

Conference 2021 took place in a single day, in a seven-hour period, instead of being spread out over the course of three days.

- World-class keynote speakers
- Interactive breakout sessions
- Networking and interaction with speakers and other delegates

Lightning talks are 2-5 minute subject-specific videos that illustrate how practitioners around the world are implementing techniques and principles based on our four themes.

Breakout Sessions are recordings of the live discussions with the Plenary speakers and with network members representing related topic areas. Some of these created Lightning Talks, as well.

Soil Fertility Management for Smallholder Farmers

Session: We will discuss nutrient forms and sources in soils, the challenges posed by nutrient-depleted and acidic soils, and ways to restore and maintain soil fertility by judicious use of inputs and wise soil management. The presentation will include information on crop nutrient removal,...

Lightning Talk - Perennial Vegetables

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Presenter: Sophia Kasubi & Faith Juma

Lightning Talk - Grafting: Budwood Selection

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Presenter: Melissa Hall

Lightning Talk - Farmster in 90 Second

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Presenter: Adam Abramson

Breakout Session - Meet the Speaker - Dr. Tom Thompson

Session: During this Breakout Session, you will have the opportunity to ask follow-up questions of Dr. Thompson's Plenary Talk: "Soil fertility and management in smallholder agriculture". Presenter: Dr. Tom Thompson

Conservation Agriculture Adoption in Kenya: Lessons from the field and a network

Session: Stephan will present the importance of community involvement and participation for better and faster conservation agriculture adoption and learning. Gathering his experiences, even during the Covid pandemic, he will update the challenges and opportunities of a CA network. Stephan has had...

Postharvest Management to Ensure Food Security and the Critical Role of Capacity Building

Session: Several regional and international organizations have quoted that the food losses are significant and evident in all parts of the world and at all stages of food supply chain. Depending upon the commodity and the handling practices followed, sometimes the losses can be more than 50% of...

Integrating Gender into Livestock Systems - Why Should I Care?

Session: This talk will be a brief overview of why and how to consider gender issues if you are working in smallholder livestock systems. We will also discuss some strategies you can use to do this, using multiple country examples from the USAID Livestock Systems Innovation Lab and other...

Lightning Talk - Grafting: Cleft Graft

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Melissa Hall

Lightning Talk - Corn Seed Sprouting

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Presenter: Rocheteau Dareus

Lightning Talk - Scientific Animations Without Boarders

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Presenter: SAWBO

Breakout Session - Promoting Innovations Via Proverbs & Songs

Session: In this Breakout Session, Pete describes ways to introduce and promote innovations by using oral arts, such as proverbs, and songs. Songs, proverbs, chants, etc. are great ways to help introduce, promote, and remember new ideas. He will show ways to involve and encourage teams in ways to...

Improving Nutrition and Income with Wild Gardens

Session: Underexploited wild food plants have a high potential to contribute to nutritional and/or medicinal healthy while generating income and sustaining the environment. Grouping of these species, whether occurring naturally or by design, become low maintenance, naturalized 'Wild Gardens.' By...

5 Guidelines for Restoring Tree Cover

Session: Urgent issues require clear, proven solutions. Join agroforestry expert John Leary as he discusses five tangible steps to achieving long-term, sustainable farmland and landscape restoration. Leary has been working with rural farming communities in some of the most degraded regions of the...

Lightning Talk - Stingless Bees

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Presenter: Daudi

Lightning Talk - Integrating Landscape Thinking

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Presenter: Brian Cohen

Comparative Acceptance, Adoption, and Impact of Introduced Fruit Species

Session: A look at community farmer preferences as compared to plantation popularity and usages of fruit species that are new to the region. (Central America). Example cases that include: cacao, rambutan, mamey zapote, ambarella, jackfruit, sapodilla, breadfruit, durian, mangosteen, Achachairu,...

Breakout Session - Meet the Speaker: John Leary

Session: During this Breakout Session, you will have the opportunity to ask follow-up questions of John Leary's Plenary Talk: "Top 5 Restoration Guidelines for Practitioners". Presenter: John Leary

Growing Mangos in Madagascar to Get on a Path Out of Poverty

Session: This session will describe how growing selected mango varieties are starting to contribute to poverty reduction in Madagascar. It will describe the efforts of the largest protestant denomination in Madagascar to spread mango varieties and grafting techniques through structures of the...

Chickens and Change: Piloting a Smallholder Broiler Production Program in Rwanda

Session: This session will feature findings and impacts from a public-private partnership that has trained and equipped smallholders in rural northern Rwanda in modern broiler chicken production. The session will highlight the importance of adopting livelihood approaches that increase incomes and...

Lightning Talk - Planning for Success

Lightning Talk, ECHO International Agriculture Conference, November 16, 2021 Presenter: Elliot Powell

2020

Virtual Conference

2020 Videos - ECHO International Agriculture Conference

The 2020 International Agriculture Conference continued the tradition of featuring leading voices in various aspects of agricultural development—practitioners, scientists, and community leaders. Content was presented in plenary and concurrent breakout sessions, with ample opportunities to network with each other, as past participants have come to know and expect.

Conference 2020 took place in a single day, in a seven-hour period, instead of being spread out over the course of three days.

- World-class keynote speakers
- Interactive breakout sessions
- Networking and interaction with speakers and other delegates

Lightning talks are 2-5 minute subject-specific videos that illustrate how practitioners around the world are implementing techniques and principles based on our four themes.

Breakout Sessions are recordings of the live discussions with the Plenary speakers and with network members representing related topic areas. Some of these created Lightning Talks, as well.

2020 ECHO International Agriculture Conference

This year ECHO held its 27th Annual Conference--but with a twist. Like many events, meetings, and occasions this year, the ECHO conference took place online. This meant the loss of the excellent face-to-face networking that has always been a hallmark of past conferences; however, a major...