ECHO sets dates for 31st annual International Agriculture Conference

ECHO Hosts 31st Annual International Agriculture Conference

Introduction

ECHO, a leading nonprofit global agriculture development organization, is hosting its 31st annual International Agriculture Conference from Tuesday, Nov. 12 to Thursday, Nov. 14 in Fort Myers. The conference takes place at ECHO’s North American Impact Center and the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast Hotel.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The three-day event is devoted to eradicating hunger and improving lives through agriculture, clean water, and community development. Dozens of breakout sessions and workshops will provide opportunities for learning with others while speakers from around the world will share their agricultural experiences for improving the lives of millions facing food insecurity daily.

Conference Topics

• Sustainable farming
• Plant grafting
• Natural farming
• Mobilizing churches for agricultural ministry
• Building resilience against hunger through animal agriculture

Target Audience

The conference will be especially beneficial for current or aspiring international or US-based agricultural development workers.

Those encouraged to attend include:

1. Short-term or career missionaries
2. National community leaders and farmers
3. Community Gardeners
4. Leaders of development/relief-oriented organizations
5. University undergraduate, graduate students, and professors
6. International project volunteers (e.g., Peace Corps)

ECHO CEO’s Statement

“This is always an inspiring event,” explained ECHO CEO Abram Bicksler. “We have hundreds of people from all over the world attend each year, sharing ideas and strategies on how to improve the lives of impoverished families and communities, and we’re looking forward to another great conference of fellowship and networking this November.”

Bicksler added that although ECHO continues to do transformative work around the globe, there is still a great need. He said the statistics show there are about 793 million hungry people in the world and 44 million in the United States alone.

Registration and Support

Registration is now open, with early bird registration available until Aug. 21. To learn more and to register please visit conference.echocommunity.org.

For more information about ECHO and how to support its mission, call 239-543-3246 or visit ECHOnet.org or ECHOcommunity.org.

About ECHO

ECHO provides hope against hunger around the globe through agricultural training and resources. As a Christian technical networking and resourcing organization, ECHO builds a diverse, global network and serves that network by sharing validated contextualized agricultural options with technical excellence. ECHO’s goal is to serve its network members to advance food security and sustainable livelihoods. ECHO’s North American Impact Center is in Fort Myers, Fla. with a global presence through four Regional Impact Centers in the USA, Thailand, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso. For more information about ECHO call 239-543-3246 or visit echonet.org or ECHOcommunity.org.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the issue of hunger and improving lives through agriculture, clean water, and community development. These align with SDG 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger, and SDG 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation. Additionally, the article mentions the conference’s relevance to agricultural development workers, which relates to SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth. Lastly, the conference itself promotes partnerships and networking, contributing to SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
• SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• SDG 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.

Based on the article, the targets identified are directly related to the SDGs mentioned. The targets include ending hunger and ensuring access to safe and nutritious food (SDG 2.1), achieving universal access to safe drinking water (SDG 6.1), promoting development-oriented policies for job creation (SDG 8.3), and enhancing global partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17.16).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of hungry people worldwide and in the United States.
• Number of attendees at the conference.
• Number of breakout sessions and workshops held during the conference.
• Number of registered participants for the conference.

The article mentions statistics on the number of hungry people worldwide and in the United States, which can serve as indicators to measure progress towards SDG 2.1. Additionally, the number of attendees, breakout sessions, workshops, and registered participants for the conference can be indicators of progress towards SDG 17.16, as it reflects the level of engagement and partnership-building in the field of agriculture and development.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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