Potential New Appropriate Tech
Exploring the possibilities and challenges of innovations in appropriate technology
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Exploring the possibilities and challenges of innovations in appropriate technology
When agricultural lands are depleted or overgrazed, incomes dwindle and
Our leaders have been passionately called to help deliver lasting hope against hunger around the world.
Dr. Abram Bicksler, the President and CEO, leads ECHO as a global partner in agroecology to strengthen our diverse network of over 19,000 organizations and individuals. By implementing localized sustainable farming practices, he works to create a transformed world that honors God through dignified farming and stewardship of creation.
While receiving his BS in Environmental Biology from Taylor University, Bicksler studied abroad at Jerusalem University College for a semester. While taking a lighthouse trip to South Africa he saw how he could use his expertise in agriculture and environmental science to help build God’s Kingdom, regaining the dignity in farming as a steward of creation.
Bicksler continued his education receiving an MS and PhD from the University of Illinois in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, focusing on sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Beginning at ECHO in 2013, Bicksler led as director of the Asia Impact Center located in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The center provides localized solutions for farming and sustainability issues in Asia. Bicksler grew the Asia team and started developing the Small Farm Resource Center and the Asia seed bank to support seed sovereignty and help preserve farmers’ biodiversity.
From 2018-2022, Bicksler served as Agricultural Officer at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. He worked to strengthen Agroecology, creating sustainable food and agriculture systems and protecting pollinators, a necessity to agriculture and healthy biodiverse ecosystems.
“Abram’s passion and strong leadership capacity are just what we need to lead ECHO into the future,” said Mark Carlson, ECHO’s Board Chairman. “Abram has shown incredible leadership to improve the livelihoods of the small-scale farmers that ECHO serves.
“I am very excited to be leading the ECHO team,” said Dr. Bicksler. “I look forward each day to helping ECHO accomplish its vision of honoring God by empowering the undernourished with sustainable hunger solutions and propel its 40-year focus on identifying, verifying, disseminating, and monitoring innovative ideas and hunger solutions to its diverse network around the globe.”
Charei Munene is a dedicated advocate for farmers and a leader in Agroecology and Ecological Organic Agriculture, with over 10 years of experience in African agriculture. He holds a B.Sc. in Botany and Zoology and an M.Sc. in Plant Pathology. His career spans international project management in agricultural development, where he has made impactful contributions.
Charei has also served as a tutorial fellow at Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology, Egerton University, and the Technical University of Kenya, mentoring hundreds of undergraduate students. His skills encompass project management, research implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
As an international consultant, he has worked on business development with Rootooba Limited and Biovision Africa Trust and managed crop protection projects at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Kenya. Additionally, as a volunteer mentor scientist with The World Food Forum, he has guided young agroecology scientists in Senegal and Cameroon to develop innovative farming technologies to address global hunger. Recently, he led Biovision Africa Trust programs focused on advancing and sharing farmer-centered Agroecology solutions.
Erwin Kinsey was born and raised on a Vermont dairy and maple farm. He volunteered with the American Friends Service Committee in Mexico for two years before finishing his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Vermont. He has worked for 35 years promoting food security of small, low-income farmers and pastoralists, first with Heifer International in Tanzania and across Africa from 1977-2007, and for Global Service Corps in Tanzania from 2007-2012. He obtained a Masters in Rural Development from the University of London SOAS in 2008 and has written numerous farmer manuals and publications.
Dr. Grace Ju Miller is passionate about ECHO’s mission to “reduce hunger and improve lives worldwide through partnerships that equip people with agricultural resources while practicing agroecology”. She was born in the Philippines and lived there for 10 years. She was the Dean of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana for the last five years. She was a Professor of Biology at Indiana Wesleyan University for nine years. Her research is focused on Moringa plant and its antibacterial qualities. She has spent time in Taiwan conducting research. Before moving to Indiana, Grace and her family lived in Morocco where she taught at a children’s home for two years. Grace was the Seed Bank Director at ECHO for four years, taught at Gordon College for eleven years, and has led a travel course — “Sustainable Tropical Agriculture” — in Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti for 17 years. She has a BA in Art and Botany from Duke University, MS in Agronomy from UC Davis, and PhD from Purdue University.
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 one daughter, Amelia. Together they love traveling, trying new foods, and serving in their local Thai church.
Robert is the founding director of ECHO West Africa and has led its growth for over a decade. Before joining ECHO, he led ACCEDES, a multi-sectoral development organization in Burkina Faso, for more than 15 years. Mr. Sanou holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management and a Juris Doctorate in Law. A national of Burkina Faso, he is fluent in French and English. He has served on the boards of regional organizations, consulted for European and U.S. entities, and traveled extensively throughout the region and the world.
Dr. Motis grew up in Ethiopia and Liberia and served as an agriculturalist in Ethiopia for two years before earning his PhD in Horticulture at the University of Florida. He has been on staff with ECHO since 2003. Currently, he coordinates and builds capacity for research and publication activities across ECHO’s Regional Impact Centers. His team also facilitates responses to ag-related inquiries from our global network.
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