Those interested in preparing for short to long-term involvement in international agriculture development are encouraged to participate in this five-day course.  Topics and discussions will focus on improved food security and agricultural livelihoods for small-scale farmers in developing countries.  Participants will be introduced to the complexities related to poverty and community development.  They will also be introduced to principles and practices that contribute toward maintaining healthy and productive soil as well as improved water management and crop production (e.g., annuals and perennials). The vital role of livestock and appropriate technology is also incorporated into the course. During the week, activities will include presentations, farm-based practicums, consultations with ECHO staff, and opportunities for research in the ECHO Resource Library. 

What is offered:

This course covers a broad range of topics relevant to those starting in agricultural development in a tropical environment.  The purpose of this class is to expose you to several different ideas and concepts.  Although a significant amount of time will be spent looking at examples on the ECHO Farm, given the breadth of topics covered, extensive hands-on farm work should not be an expectation of taking this course.

Language: This course is offered in English

Faith and Farming is a scripture engagement initiative, connecting the Bible with everyday farmers' experiences to facilitate the impact of Bible translation. It has two primary goals, to help all those who work on the land to:

1) engage with all of the Bible in the language that they use as they work on their farms or with their animals, and
2) make a connection between their faith in God and their day to day work, so that their whole life is impacted and reflects God’s greatness in everything they do and say.

To do this, the Faith and Farming materials highlight and draw on the many farmers in the Bible, including God Himself, the very first "farmer" who planted the Garden of Eden.

The LEAD Community of Practice and ECHO North America Impact Centre are excited to be hosting this training event, contextualising the Faith and Farming materials for community engagement workers in the Americas. The event is suitable for both farmers and those who work alongside and support farmers, and will provide an introduction to the wider Faith and Farming curriculum for those who would like to incorporate its principles into their own work. Visit the Faith and Farming website for more information about the Faith and Farming programme.

While efforts will be made to ensure the material is relevant and appropriate for the Americas region, as with all training, much of the material covered will need to be sensitively considered and potentially adapted for implementation in your own unique work setting. It should also be noted that this training event is open to people of differing faiths and no faith, and the LEAD community of practice recognises the benefits of diversity when dealing with complex topics. However, for this event in particular the training will be based on stories and principles from the Christian Bible. Please consider carefully whether this is an event that you will be comfortable participating in fully.

Event Goal:

Participants return to their organisations and places of work with a better understanding of the connections between their faith, farming and agriculture more broadly, and are equipped and motivated to share their learning with others.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the event participants will have...

1. A basic theological understanding of the connections between Faith and Farming,

2. Reviewed and considered what the Bible has to say about farming and agriculture more broadly, and what the implications are for us as we work with the land in a sustainable way,

3. Considered what it means to be a follower of Jesus and a farmer and the implications for Scripture Engagement initiatives,

4. Seen firsthand a selection of sustainable farming techniques demonstrated at the ECHO Global Farm,

5. Begun to plan what their next steps are for incorporating their learning into their own work and context.

And (our hope is that) by six months after the event participants will have run one training event in their own location, with the support of others as needed.

This 1-week course is designed for development workers, missionaries, and volunteers looking to engage their communities with low-cost, high-impact agricultural innovations and techniques. Participants will be introduced to various agricultural practices and technologies through classroom time and hands-on activities on the farm, learning to 'use what you have to make what you need.'

This course is considered an 'introductory survey course' and will present a broad overview of many options suited to smallholder agricultural contexts in Asia. 

Those interested in preparing for short/long-term involvement in community and agricultural development internationally are encouraged to participate in this five-day (35 hours) training course. Course participants will gain an introduction to aspects of poverty and community development and an orientation to ECHO. They will also receive instruction on proven community development, including agricultural principles/practices and practical techniques, systems and technologies to meet wholistic community development, agricultural, and nutritional needs of impoverished communities. The training is conducted in an interactive manner that focuses on discovery learning.  

Visit IBI's Biochar Academy: Thailand webpage for more information!

Participants will:

• Hear from biochar experts to gain insight into the current and future state of biochar research, commercial activity, and opportunities
• Become equipped with essential knowledge for training others in biochar fundamentals
• Make biochar using low-tech methods and identify a wide variety of applications for biochar
• Discuss the relationship between biochar and climate change mitigation
• Recognize the growing number of biochar production technologies, their co-products, scaling potential and more
• Grasp the carbon removal marketplace and opportunities for biochar producers and farmers with a regional focus on Southeast Asia
• Network with other biochar stakeholders working in research, farmer education, carbon removal markets, biochar production and market development

We are soliciting potential presenters  and attendees for the 8th ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium in collaboration with Hope International Burundi, to be held in Bujumbura from the 25th - 27th February, 2025, a three day sharing event to be held at the King's Conference Center (KCC)  in Bujumbura, Burundi. The event will draw participants from all across East Africa to address issues of sustainable agriculture and appropriate technologies. We prefer presentations with practical information for cross-organizational learning which may be of use to enhance farmers' knowledge, increase capacity for food & fuel & fodder production, generate income using low external inputs, not increasing land under cultivation but intensifying and using resources more efficiently, reducing waste/erosion, and enhancing the environment. 

Your organization's work is well known and respected in the region, and you have been suggested as a presenter, based upon the ideas we have been discussing with the Burundi planning team. ECHO truly hopes that you might participate in this symposium to address needs, share innovations and best practices in your work. 

We anticipate to host up to 150 participants, including lead farmers, extension workers, development workers, donors, government officials and others interested in rural or agricultural development including processors and others in the value chains.

Those interested in preparing for short/long-term involvement in community and agricultural development internationally are encouraged to participate in this five-day (35 hours) training course. Course participants will gain an introduction to aspects of poverty and community development and an orientation to ECHO. They will also receive instruction on proven community development, including agricultural principles/practices and practical techniques, systems and technologies to meet wholistic community development, agricultural, and nutritional needs of impoverished communities. The training is conducted in an interactive manner that focuses on discovery learning.  

This is a five day, hands-on course that will focus on food forests and garden design. By taking this course you will learn how to design and start a food forest in your own backyard. Participants will walk through the design process with professional designers, starting from setting goals, surveying the piece of land, building a base map, considering earthworks, and creatively designing around constraints.

Attendees will be able to see and apply these principles to a small garden or a large plot of land. This training is also beneficial to missionaries to be able to help individuals in food insecure areas around the world have a foundation to bring nutrition into their lives from their own backyard.

This 1-week course is designed for development workers, missionaries, and volunteers looking to engage their communities with low-cost, high-impact agricultural innovations and techniques. Participants will be introduced to various agricultural practices and technologies through classroom time and hands-on activities on the farm, learning to 'use what you have to make what you need.'

This course is considered an 'introductory survey course' and will present a broad overview of many options suited to smallholder agricultural contexts in Asia. 

Those interested in preparing for short to long-term involvement in international agriculture development are encouraged to participate in this five-day course.  Topics and discussions will focus on improved food security and agricultural livelihoods for small-scale farmers in developing countries.  Participants will be introduced to the complexities related to poverty and community development.  They will also be introduced to principles and practices that contribute toward maintaining healthy and productive soil as well as improved water management and crop production (e.g., annuals and perennials). The vital role of livestock and appropriate technology is also incorporated into the course. During the week, activities will include presentations, farm-based practicums, consultations with ECHO staff, and opportunities for research in the ECHO Resource Library. 

What is offered:

This course covers a broad range of topics relevant to those starting in agricultural development in a tropical environment.  The purpose of this class is to expose you to several different ideas and concepts.  Although a significant amount of time will be spent looking at examples on the ECHO Farm, given the breadth of topics covered, extensive hands-on farm work should not be an expectation of taking this course.

July 15-18 is a TAD 2 Training on Syntropic Agroforestry. If you would like to take part in both TAD Trainings you can "Bundle and Save". That's two information-packed weeks on the ECHO farm learning from experienced ECHO staff and Partners and interacting with a multitude of tropical crops, systems, and animals. 

Click Here to learn more about the TAD II Syntropic Agroforestry course.

July 2025, ECHO North America will be hosting back-to-back trainings for TAD I and TAD II!

Introduction to Tropical Agriculture Development (TAD I) will be July 7-11! For more details that relate specifically to this training please use this link for more information.

TAD II: Syntropic Agroforestry will be July 15-18! For more details that relate specifically to this training please use this link for more information.

You can Register for BOTH events for a reduced cost per training! Save $200 off regular registration prices, or $300 if you register early and get the Early Bird price! 

Introduction to Syntropic Agriculture

This is an interactive 4-day agroforestry training session.  Learn how to cultivate abundant food and timber in a system that mimics a natural forest.  Syntropic farming is a method inspired by Ernst Götsch.

This course will cover the principles and practices needed for a beginner to plant his/her own agroforest.  Basic design and management skills will also be taught.  An attendee can expect to return home with enough knowledge to produce a couple of rows of trees, so they start learning more through firsthand experience.

About your Instructors

Roger Gietzen is a father, medical doctor, and humanitarian worker interested in holistic health and regenerative agriculture. After coming to Haiti to serve the poorest, he created the nonprofit Global Freedom Project. Since 2016, he has been working on an educational program to help spread the wisdom of syntropic farming to the family farmers of Haiti. 

Mauro Rosito is a father, humanitarian worker, and farmer with years of firsthand experience in syntropic agriculture. He has operated a sustainable market garden business on his family farm in Southern Brazil. Shortly after he met Roger, he decided to join the team in Haiti and bring his expertise “to the table” to help create this educational program. He has a particular interest in cacao farming.

July 7-11 is an Intro to Tropical Agriculture Development 1 Training. If you would like to take part in both TAD Trainings you can "Bundle and Save". That's two information-packed weeks on the ECHO farm learning from experienced ECHO staff and Partners and interacting with a multitude of tropical crops, systems, and animals. 

Click Here to learn more about the Introduction to Tropical Agriculture Development training. 

We are delighted to invite you to present and partcipate at the upcoming Innovation Exchange Conference, hosted in collaboration with Waterlines and ECHO East Africa. This event will occur from 16th to 18th July 2025 at the Uhuru Hostel & Conference Centre in Moshi, Tanzania. The purpose of this exchange is to have groups funded by the Watersheds Foundation and previously by Waterlines come together to present their innovative ideas in food security, sustainable livelihoods, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Through this engagement, ECHO will bring together participants from across East Africa to share innovative ideas and appropriate technologies.

This two-day event is designed to foster practical and cross-organizational learning. We are particularly interested in presentations that will strengthen participants' knowledge of watersheds, WASH, food security, sustainable fuel, income generation using low external inputs, resource efficiency, reducing waste and erosion, and supporting environmental sustainability.

Your organization is highly regarded in the region, and based on discussions with our organizing team, we would be honored to have you present at this important event. We believe your insights and best practices will greatly contribute to addressing the challenges faced by water users and small-scale farmers.

หลักสูตรการอบรมนี้ถูกออกแบบขึ้นเพื่อเป็นประโยชน์ต่อ ผู้ที่ทำงานด้านการพัฒนา มิชชั่นนารี และอาสาสมัคร ที่กำลังมองหาแนวทางในการประยุกต์ใช้ทักษะและเทคนิคด้านการทำการเกษตรที่มีประโยชน์และมีต้นทุนต่ำในการทำงานกับชุมชน ผู้เข้าร่วมอบรมจะได้เรียนรู้และฝึกปฏิบัติเทคนิคการทำการเกษตรที่หลากหลายตลอดการอบรม เรียนรู้ที่จะใช้ประโยชน์จากที่มีตัวเองมีอยู่ให้เกิดประโยชน์สูงสุด

หลักสูตรนี้เปรียบเสมือนกับ หลักสูตรการเริ่มต้นสำรวจ ซึ่งผู้เข้าร่วมอบรมจะได้เรียนรู้ภาพรวมของหัวข้อและเทคนิคในการทำการเกษตรต่างๆที่เหมาะสมกับบริบทของเกษตรกรขนาดเล็กในภูมิภาคเอเชีย

This 1-week course is designed for development workers, pastors, and volunteers looking to engage their communities with low-cost, high-impact agricultural innovations and techniques. Participants will be introduced to various agricultural practices and technologies through classroom time and hands-on activities on the farm, learning to 'use what you have to make what you need.'

This course is considered an 'introductory survey course' and will present a broad overview of many options suited to smallholder agricultural contexts in Asia. 

Save the Date!

How can we help small scale farming initiatives thrive in Asia? We can provide low-cost, innovative options that allow people to grow both their crops and their knowledge, expand their operations, and thrive!

Join us October 22-24 for 3-days of networking and opportunities to share ideas, technologies appropriate for small-scale farmers, and lots of practical demonstrations at the ECHO Asia Small Farm Resource Center & Seed Bank!

In addition to morning plenary speakers, we will conduct afternoon workshops at the ECHO Small Farm Resource Centrer, an evening poster session, a seed exchange, and a 1-day site visit to an area best practice site!