The 2nd ECHO Agricultural Conference will be held at the Empress Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand fromSeptember 21-25, 2009. Geared towards enabling persons serving Asia’s poor to network solutions related to alleviating hunger and poverty, this ECHO conference will offer:

• Three mornings of plenary sessions featuring knowledgeable and experienced speakers. Slated speakers include Dr. Norman Uphoff (researcher and advocate of SRI rice production worldwide), Salinee Tavarana (director of the Border Green Energy Teamthat provides hands-on appropriate technology training and financial support to village innovators in ethnic minority areas on both sides of the Thai/Burma border) as well as Jon Jandai and Peggy Reents (founders of Pun Pun, organic farm, seed-saving operation, and sustainable living and learning center known especially for its promotion of earthen houses).
• Dozens of afternoon and evening workshops and discussion groups led by regional agricultural development workers and experts (possibly including you).
• A day of post-conference tours (September 25) to notable venues which offer excellent examples of sustainable agriculture, appropriate technology and outreach to the poor.
• Members of the ECHO team based in Ft. Myers, Florida, including Stan Doerr (President/CEO of ECHO), Beth Doerr (Intern Manager/ Agricultural Consultant who brings expertise related to the Moringa tree and Appropriate Technologies), Dr. Tim Motis(Director of ECHO’s Agricultural Resources Department and Seed Bank Director) and others. Excellent and affordable conference-related accommodation and meals at Chiang Mai’s Empress Hotel http://www.empresshotels.com/empress_hotel.html
• A resource fair featuring displays and booths by various development organizations and businesses.
• Unlimited networking opportunities with fellow conference participants and resource persons. Additional information, including on-line registration and payment, will be made available via the ECHO website (www.echonet.org) by early 2009.

For more information please contact Rick Burnette at rburnette@echonet.org. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the conference!