ECHO, Inc #echofightshunger is a non-profit agro-ecological organization whose mission is to support small-scale farmers through the dissemination of information and underutilized plant seeds. The group operates several seed banks worldwide which preserves biodiversity and seed sovereignty. ECHO also offers training courses and workshops on many topics, including tropical agriculture."Kalamazoo native Russell Powell honored by Florida Nonprofit Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization". Kalamazoo Gazette. April 10, 2010
Headquarters and North America Impact Center ECHO is headquartered in North Fort Myers, Florida. Its 56-acre campus houses the North America Impact Center, a demonstration and research farm, a reference library with a variety of resources about rare agricultural crops and techniques,"Bonita Middle students learn the ropes of self-sustained farming". KELLY O'NEIL, The Banner. May 17, 2009 a seed bank, a tropical fruit nursery with a large collection of bamboo varieties, and a bookstore. The North America Impact Center also includes an appropriate technology center developing tools and equipment for small scale farmers."5 Super Simple Ways to Get Your Urban Garden Going". Treehugger, A.K. Streeter, March 2, 2011 Various parts of the farm demonstrate agriculture in different conditions including highlands, lowlands, semi-arid and a demonstration of the techniques of urban agriculture that have been implemented around the world."Man helps others through organic farming". Fremont Tribune, September 8, 2013 By Carolyn Gibbs.
Regional Impact Centers
In addition to the North America Impact Center, ECHO operates three other Regional Impact Centers to bring agricultural resources to small-scale farmers in the surrounding areas/regions of Chiang Mai, Thailand (Asia Impact Center), Arusha, Tanzania (East Africa Impact Center),"Earth Day: 15 Recommendations Using Agriculture to Address Environmental Issues". NewStaar Media, D Robert Curry, April 22, 2011 and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (West Africa Impact Center).
Seed distribution
ECHO maintains a collection of useful tropical trees and other plants and provides seed and cuttings,"Chaya - Mayan Tree-Spinach, Cabbage Star". GoodFood World, Arthur Lee Jacobson, March 20th, 2012 free of charge, to individuals actively involved in agricultural development, with the intention that these open-pollinated seeds will be harvested from the resulting crops and distributed in the communities."USF hospitality students use Lakewood Ranch community garden to enhance learning".Bradenton Herald, By CLAIRE ARONSON December 10, 2014."Anna Maria Island garden project growing, raising awareness". Bay News 9, Summer Smith, June 28, 2014, For example, ECHO disseminates seeds and information about Moringa oleifera, a nutritional plant species useful for providing essential vitamins and minerals for people in developing countries in the tropics. To order seeds from ECHO as an active development worker, create an account on ECHOcommunity.org and request seeds through the website. Free trial packets can be received once per year.
Technical Notes ECHO publishes a series of technical notes that cover a variety of topics related to appropriate technology, agroecology and agroforestry.
See also Agroecology Sustainable development Appropriate technology
References
External links ECHO official site ECHO technical resourcing