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Welcome to the 32^nd annual ECHO International Agriculture Conference! This event brings together industry leaders, practitioners, researchers, and educators dedicated to eradicating hunger and improving lives through agriculture and community development. Our plenary, breakout, and workshop sessions offer valuable opportunities for learning and collaboration.

Attendees will have the chance to hear from speakers who share their agricultural challenges and successes, personal experiences, and transferrable principles for addressing food insecurity. Along with learning from presenters, delegates will also have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience at ECHO's Small Farm Resource Center during the afternoon breakout sessions. Networking with like-minded individuals is a key highlight of the conference. 

Join us from November 11-13 in Fort Myers, Florida for this important gathering. Additionally, there will be an optional one-day post-conference workshops on November 14^th. We invite you to celebrate more than 30 years of networking and learning together at this enriching event.

Farming God's Way is an amazing solution to the food security and poverty crisis facing agricultural communities, using well-integrated biblical, management and technical keys to help break the yokes of physical and spiritual poverty among the poor.  Farming God's Way is rooted in a deep, heartfelt consideration for the poor, based on our founding scripture, Isaiah 58.

January 26-30 is an Introduction to Tropical Agriculture Development Training. If you would like to take part in both 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 course.

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.

January 20-24 is a FGW Training. If you would like to take part in both 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 FGW course.

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.  

Introduction to Tropical Agriculture Development

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. 

Syntropic Agroforestry 

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.

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.

April 21-24 is a 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 Syntropic Agroforestry course.

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.

April 13-17 is an Intro to Tropical Agriculture Development Training. If you would like to take part in both 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. 

Those interested in advancing sustainable agriculture through seed security are invited to join this 3-day intensive on seed saving and seed banking. Participants 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. 

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.