ECHOcommunity Updates
Dive Deeper with ECHO CEO Abram Bicksler 2025-09-07
Saturday, September 13th | Podcast (Online)
ECHO CEO Abram Bicksler will be a plenary speaker for the September meeting of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA). Abram's Diving Deeper Discussion will discuss ECHO's mission, vision, and commitment to reaching smallholder farmers with agroecosystem strategies based on scientific evidence and local contextualization. This involves ECHO’s core functions of identifying (finding), validating (testing), disseminating (sharing resources and training), and evaluating (measuring) agricultural options that lead to effective and impactful training and dissemination of agroecosystem strategies. Join to listen live or listen to the recording and dive deep!
ISHS IV International Underutilized Plant Species Symposium 2025-09-02
Breakout Categories
Presenter sessions are in, and conveners have set the breakout session categories for October's IV International Symposium on Underutilized Plant Species.
Breakout categories are:
- Human Nutrition and Post-harvest Processing
- Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources
- Environmental Requirements and Adaptation
- Crop Managment Considerations
A Recap of the Global Holistic MEAL Symposium 2025-08-26
The Global Holistic Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Symposium, held 7-9 July 2025 at ECHO Asia’s Regional Impact Center in Chiang Mai, brought together organizational leaders, researchers, and MEAL professionals for three days on the topic of measuring the transformative impact of holistic development efforts.
Day one featured sharing about challenges, successes, and lessons learned as well as case studies from various organizations.
Day two was facilitated through a charrette (pictured left) which brought together practical ideas, stimulated participants to work together, and facilitated consensus-based participation.
Day three started with a panel discussion on trust-based philanthropy, emphasizing how stories, statistics, and trust in an organization’s ethos and leadership go hand in hand. This was followed by a time of reflection.
Beyond the sessions, the symposium fostered networking and community-building. Attendees connected over shared interests, potential collaborations, and opportunities to drive meaningful change.
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Bon nouvèl pou kominote nou an nan Amerik Santral ak Karayib la (CAC)! 2025-08-19
Sant Echo Pou Enpak Rejyonal la (RIC) gen yon biwo kounyeya nan Antigua Guatemala 
Dirèktè rejyonal nou an deja sou plas, e l ap pran premye etap yo pou mete espas sa a an fonksyon. L'ap konstwi ekip la ki pral ede l fè pwosesis la avanse pou nou ka sèvi ou nan pi bon fason ki posib 
Dezi nou se pou Sant Echo Rejyonal la pou Amerik Santral ak Karayib la vin yon zouti vivan ki itil pou ou menm k’ap mache bò kote fanmi ak kominote yo ki afekte pa grangou ak malnitrisyon.
Vin jwenn nou nan pakou sa a, ak espwa ak angajman!
Ansanm avèk ou, n’ap chèche kontinye travay pou konbat grangou ak malnitrisyon nan rejyon nou an, epi pou ankouraje yon modèl alimantè ki jis, ki dirab, epi ki bay lavi pou glwa Bondye.
Free Webinar: Fire up your fertility with DIY biochar made simple 2025-08-12
August 19th | 6:00 PM EST | Free Online Webinar
Reserve your spot today and turn everyday biomass into lasting soil fertility!
Join Elliott Toevs of ECHO North America and NCAT's Gabriella Soto-Vélez for a practical deep dive into biochar.
- gather low-cost biomass
- assemble a compact kiln and fire it
- quench the biochar
- inoculate the fresh char with compost or liquid nutrients
- apply it at the right rates to boost soil structure, water-holding capacity, and microbial life
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EIAC 2025 Early Bird Extended 2025-08-05
Did you miss the Early Bird deadline for the November ECHO International Agriculture Conference? We have extended our deadline for the Early Bird price to August 31st!
Visit the link to the conference website above for more information about our plenary speakers, post-conference options, becoming a speaker, poster session opportunities, lodging, and registration.
We hope to see you this November!
Promote your event! Utilize ECHO Conversations' event category 2025-07-29
Network Event Postings
Does your organization have an event coming up that might be of interest to agricultural or community development workers? Post it here with details and a link for more information or to register. Please include the date of the event so we can ‘hide’ the posting once the event is in the past. Include any details that will be helpful for ECHO Community members when planning for the event!
Seed Banking Training at ECHO North America! 2025-07-22
Are you interested in seed security?
Join this 5-day intensive on seed saving and seed banking! You will explore key topics such as seed biology, multiplication, selection, processing, storage, and pest management, with an emphasis on enhancing food security and agricultural development. The course includes hands-on demonstrations and real-world applications, providing practical skills for successful seed management in the tropics. The week will conclude with a seed swap, offering an opportunity to connect and exchange resources with fellow participants!
Now Available! EDN 170 2025-07-15
In this issue
- Should I Apply for Organic Certification? A Practical Guide for Farmers and Producers
- Is Aquaponics for me?
- Echoes from Our Network: Grow Fertility using Green Manure/Cover Crops
- From ECHO’s Seed Bank: ‘Georgia-1’ pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)
Should I Apply for Organic Certification?
A Practical Guide for Farmers and Producers
Spencer Leung, GO Organics Peace International
Excerpt:
Certification costs vary by certification category, farm size, number of sites, and the distance the inspector travels. Each certifying company will ask for information to calculate costs. Third-party certifiers often charge higher audit and travel fees. Smallholders selling locally can reduce costs through Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) or group certification. PGS processes typically require modest administrative levies shared among members. Farmers aiming to export products should budget for consultancy services, laboratory tests, and certification fees accepted by the export country.
Survey Opportunity: Agroecology Living Labs 2025-07-08
ECHO Commuity member Marie Miller-Aichhol is conducting research about the role of agroecology living labs in sustainable food systems. Please share your thoughts on this method for promoting sustainable, equitable, and productive agroecosystems. The survey is 18 questions and only available in English.
Her research objective is to study the extent to which agroecology living labs contribute to environmental justice and food sovereignty. In other words, how much they live up to the claim of transformation and systems change, given the increasing use of the term in recent years, not least in policymaking and science.