Entry #7
6/19/2011
Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) is a non-profit association of individuals that seek to teach impoverished farmers valuable and sustainable agricultural techniques to better their whole community. ECHO’s work spans the globe from the United States to countries such as Africa, Haiti, Thailand, etc. They’ve realized that missionary work is not enough to help the less fortunate communities of the world that rely on local farmers, and that the only way to help these people effectively is to teach them to help themselves. ECHO has educated hundreds in agricultural techniques and has been directly responsible for increasing the quality of life in several communities. I learned a great deal about several types of plants, their advantages, and about the goals of this ambitious organization as a whole. I also enjoyed the animals that help ECHO with their mission through various means.
ECHO is also responsible for the production, marketing, distribution and consumption of its own line of organic products. ECHO sells a variety of products and vegetation derived from the assortment of plants they grow. These plants are examined by researchers and then they produce research papers based on their findings. The findings in these papers are then used in turn to market the benefits of the products created from those particular plants. Furthermore, the products and vegetation created by ECHO are also distributed by their global farms. Finally, they reach consumers through the tours they give of their facilities or through their various networking avenues.
The revenue gained from their agribusiness depends on the crucial relationships between the soil, water, and climate. ECHO grows their vegetation in several types of soils depending on which plant they want to grow; moreover, they use a variety of soils from regular dirt to pine cones. However, the soil is just one element of the farming process. ECHO has advanced irrigation methods that provide the critical water that their plant life thrives off of. The most challenging aspect of the farming process is the climate because this is the only factor out of the three that isn’t controllable. Florida’s climate is a unique obstacle because it rains heavily only for six months and then it’s basically blistering heat for the rest of the year. ECHO compensates for the climate by pairing the right seed with the right kind of soil, and taking advantage of their irrigation systems.
ECHO receives about 56% of their income through the tours they give around their facilities, and make the rest through sales of their products, plants, seeds, etc. Being a nonprofit organization, ECHO relies heavily on tours and product sales; nonetheless, their efforts provide sustainable methods of fighting world hunger yet they get little government funding. Bill Hooth, our tour guide, was the person that mentioned to me that little government funding is provided to ECHO and that could be partly due to the fact that they’re a Christian denomination organization. I’m honestly still not sure on the whole government funding issue because it seems to me that they provide enough valuable resources to impoverished people to rival all the current missionary work. Missionary work does benefit mankind, but it seems like a “quick fix” or short term solution. ECHO’s teachings provide reliable long term solutions that impact whole communities. In addition, I feel that ECHO is making progress in gaining recognition for their efforts in agricultural sustainability and biodiversity. They are currently the third largest tourist attraction in the Lee County area and will hopefully surpass the Shell Factory someday (because that place is lame).
This organization is constantly making strides in ending world hunger. ECHO’s agricultural expertise, variety of seeds, knowledgeable members, and righteous cause provides an excellent catalyst to feed millions of hungry people. An effort of such proportions leads to innovations such as the one being done with the highly nutritious Moringa tree. This particular type of vegetation is a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron, and potassium. According to Bill, “the Moringa can almost double the size of an infant suffering from malnutrition”. ECHO has determined various methods of utilizing the Moringa as a dietary supplement, lotion, water filter, etc. The knowledge and tools are there, but it’s up to people like you and me to invest resources into this organization whether it is volunteering or funds. ECHO is globalizing their resources in order to fight world hunger effectively; therefore, a little volunteering here or money there goes a long way for their cause. I’m personally going to purchase some of their all natural products such as Moringa powder and add it into my daily diet. I feel it is the least I can do to help them with their mission and it’s a great product as well.
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