About Patrick Trail

Patrick is originally from Louisiana, USA, but spent most of his growing-up years overseas in southern Africa. After completing an undergraduate degree in International Development, he returned to Virginia Tech to complete a Master’s degree in Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences and worked on a USAID Feed the Future project in Senegal. Before moving to Asia, Patrick participated in ECHO’s tropical agriculture internship program in Florida as a ‘Tropical Monsoon’ intern.

Patrick has worked with the ECHO Asia team in Thailand for the past eight years, first as a Technical Advisor and, more recently, as the Extension Coordinator, before taking on the role of Director in 2023. Patrick has extensive experience throughout the Asia region, having worked on the ground on 200+ farms and project sites within the ECHO network, including the organization of training workshops and conferences, and publication of numerous written materials related to small-scale agricultural systems.

Patrick met his wife, Brittaney, in Thailand in 2019, and together they have two children. Together they love traveling, trying new foods, and serving in their local Thai church.

When Farmers Across Fields Share Common Ground: Insights from Asia

Some of the most useful lessons in agriculture have come from asking farmers a few questions and listening. Drawing on conversations from across Asia, Patrick will share what he’s hearing about the challenges farmers face and how quickly those realities are changing. While each farm has its own story, common threads across different contexts and farming systems offer us insightful lessons for Asia and beyond. These conversations invite development workers to keep learning alongside farmers, to look for holistic approaches, and to build networks that bring together knowledge and skills none of us has on our own.