For twenty-six years, ECHO has brought together networks of like-minded individuals devoted to eradicating hunger and improving lives through agriculture and community development. In its 27th year, in light of constraints due to novel coronavirus, the ECHO International Agriculture Conference will be completely virtual in its presentation of speakers addressing agricultural challenges, personal experiences, and strategies for improving the lives of millions who daily face food insecurity.
Anyone interested or working in agricultural development would benefit from the topics presented at this conference and networking with others in attendance. Those who typically attend fall into one or more categories:
9am - 4:30pm (Eastern Time)
The plenary speaker roster this year features experts in areas of conservation agriculture, public health, agroforestry, and agricultural extension. Topics to be presented will range from community development principles and addressing needs in crises, to the connection of agricultural development and environmental restoration.
The 2020 International Agriculture Conference will continue to feature leading voices in various aspects of agricultural development—practitioners, scientists, and community leaders. Content will be 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 this year will take place in a single day, in a seven-hour period, instead of being spread out over the course of three days.
What to expect from this year's conference:
For all other devices you can access the event from any web browser.
David Erickson, ECHO President/CEO
Neil Rowe Miller
The myth of farmer conservatism blinds many development practitioners from recognizing that the greatest asset they have in technology development and promotion is the very farmers whose behavior they hope to change. Examples will be shared of farmer-generated technologies that make more economic and social sense than outside alternatives. Programming implications include empowering farmers to train their peers, embracing diversity rather than simplistic solutions, and investing long-term in building local capacity.
Various Presenters
Lightning talks are 2-5 minute subject-specific presentations that illustrate how practitioners around the world are implementing techniques and principles based on our four themes.
Kristin Davis
At the start of 2020, COVID-19 broke out with huge consequences for resilience of smallholder farmers and other vulnerable groups dependent on agriculture. Extension and advisory services can help strengthen resilience of their clientele by increasing their access to both tangible (e.g., seed, fertilizer) and intangible (e.g., information, advice) resources. This presentation looks back at previous crises such as Avian influenza and HIV/AIDS to learn how extension dealt with these crises and helped strengthen resilience of their clientele to deal with the emergencies. The presentation examines recent experiences how extension innovated during COVID. It provides recommendations to extension program implementers who serve smallholder farmers on how best to support smallholders and on innovative ways to reach them during crises.
Various Presenters
Lightning talks are 2-5 minute subject-specific presentations that illustrate how practitioners around the world are implementing techniques and principles based on our four themes.
Gen Meredith
As we are called to action to help improve the health or wellness or resilience of communities, and their resources, we assess needs, identify assets, foster collaborations, and unite to act to improve the status quo. But what if we’re not using the right lens to see all the factors that are at play, and all that potential there is? This talk will introduce you to the One Health lens—highlighting the inextricable links between human health, animal health, and environmental and plant health—and the planetary health lens—considering the un/sustainable use of resources and the impacts that emerge—giving you tools to consider and reconsider the work you do, and the long-term impacts you have, or can have.
Various Presenters
Lightning talks are 2-5 minute subject-specific presentations that illustrate how practitioners around the world are implementing techniques and principles based on our four themes.
Tony Rinaudo
Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is the systematic regeneration of this “underground forest.” In this plenary Tony will talk about the history and development of FMNR, explain what it is and how it has impacted people in Niger Republic and beyond. Considering global climate change, deforestation, land degradation, biodiversity loss and growing human need, he will share on the need for exponential scale up of reforestation and the potential for this.
Various Presenters
Lightning talks are 2-5 minute subject-specific presentations that illustrate how practitioners around the world are implementing techniques and principles based on our four themes.
Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 International Agriculture Conference will be held exclusively online. Since there are no associated travel or hotel costs, the price to attend is accessible to many more people! We are happy to offer everyone a single low price this year.
Scholarships: While $35 is an affordable price for most, for those unable to pay, we are offering selective scholarships to those who apply and are awarded.
Provide a scholarship: Due to the contributions of generous donors, we are able to double the number of scholarships available—but we need your contributions! When you register for the conference, you can choose to add a scholarship to your registration and we will provide two deserving delegates with admission to this year’s event.
Add-on when you register
Give the gift of the ECHO International Agriculture Conference to someone who couldn't attend otherwise!
We understand that not everyone has the ability to pay via credit card, or has the ability to pay the full conference registration fee. We've partnered with donors and other delegates to provide scholarships to as many people as we can.
As of 08/12/2020
What does an ECHO International Agriculture Conference look like?
Check out these videos from previous year's plenary speakers:
November 14, 2019
There are several challenges to increase productivity and control the potential of contamination from aflatoxin, a highly carcinogenic byproduct of a common soil fungus...
November 12, 2015
The cyclical relationship between agricultural development and human health can hinder or drive economic development. Dr. Hanson explores the impacts of poor health on agricultural productivity and yield...
November 16, 2019
If you're wondering what you might get out of an ECHO Conference, listen to what previous attendees have to say about the experience. This video is a compilation of short remarks taken during the course of the 2019 conference.
The resources and networking opportunities that make the ECHO International Agriculture Conference unique are available year-round through ECHOcommunity.org
Join Today
Let other attendees know who you are, where you work, and projects and interests. Find and connect with other delegates who may be working in your geographic or interest area.
Connect with other delegates through discussion of important topics. Ask and respond to questions, and connect with Conference administrators.
Connect one-on-one with a delegate through the Virtual Meet option. Suggest a meeting with someone who you want to get to know more and directly connect through the app.
Utilize the Community Board and Attendee Profile and identify people that you want to follow up with.
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