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Regeneration Belize was held November 12th and 13th 2019 at NATS fairground. For list of speakers and topics, click here
In November 2018, Pro-Organic Belize participated in the Regeneration International and Regeneration Belize "Transforming Tropical Agriculture" Conference that took place at the National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) Grounds. Click Here for list of Topics and speakers and Schedule and 12 page program
POB members and the public are invited to hear informative presentations by invited guest speakers on the first Saturday of each month.
Members are encouraged to suggest interesting speakers for these monthly events.
Below is our future and past list of informative guest speakers and panels.
2021
COMING UP:
Speaker Meetings are currently held on the 1st Saturday of each month (unless holiday), via Zoom
February 6th
Saturday, from 3-4:30 speaker will be
Rosita Arvigo, DN “40 Years of Organic Gardening
Success and Failure.” More to learn from
mistakes than successes and Rosita’s sharing of
why she thinks what she did worked, or did not
work. Discussion on the most important
food plants with questions and answers to
follow. Mark your calendars!
March 6th Saturday, from 3-4:30 speaker will be William Usher of BAEL (Belize Agro-Enterprises Ltd.) and EM (effective microorganism) specialist. William is a powerful speaker and has been a long-time advocate for organic gardening here in Belize.
April 10th Saturday, from 3-4:30 speaker will be Gary Ramirez. Gary will speak on “Catalyzing a national regenerative agriculture strategy for Belize”. He is a dynamic speaker and very connected to all aspects of regenerative agriculture and protection of the environment of Belize.
May 8th Andre Leu is the author of 'Poisoning Our Children' and 'The Myths of Safe Pesticides'. He is the International Director of Regeneration International, an organization that promotes food, farming, and land use systems that regenerate and stabilize climate systems, the health of the planet and people, communities, culture and local economies, democracy and peace.
June 5th Maya Forest Gardeners Panel
July 3rd Ed Boles, aquatic ecologist... As an environmental educator and consultant, he promotes and implements watershed management, appropriate and ecologically sensitive development, biological waste management, ecological restoration, private protected areas management, community-based watershed management and non-chemical mosquito control.
March 6th Saturday, from 3-4:30 speaker will be William Usher of BAEL (Belize Agro-Enterprises Ltd.) and EM (effective microorganism) specialist. William is a powerful speaker and has been a long-time advocate for organic gardening here in Belize.
April 10th Saturday, from 3-4:30 speaker will be Gary Ramirez. Gary will speak on “Catalyzing a national regenerative agriculture strategy for Belize”. He is a dynamic speaker and very connected to all aspects of regenerative agriculture and protection of the environment of Belize.
May 8th Andre Leu is the author of 'Poisoning Our Children' and 'The Myths of Safe Pesticides'. He is the International Director of Regeneration International, an organization that promotes food, farming, and land use systems that regenerate and stabilize climate systems, the health of the planet and people, communities, culture and local economies, democracy and peace.
June 5th Maya Forest Gardeners Panel
July 3rd Ed Boles, aquatic ecologist... As an environmental educator and consultant, he promotes and implements watershed management, appropriate and ecologically sensitive development, biological waste management, ecological restoration, private protected areas management, community-based watershed management and non-chemical mosquito control.
PAST SPEAKERS:
2021
January 9th Zoom Panel Discussion...Issues and Pesticide-Free Solutions for Farmers and Gardeners.
Panelists included the following:
**Fay Garnett – Agriculture Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise. Former National Organic Coordinator of the Belize National Organic Council,
**Beth Roberson – Founder and Editor of the Belize Ag Report, National Chairperson for Regeneration Belize **Santiago Juan – Lorenzo Organic Farm, farmer and horseman of Hannah Stables
**Ed Boles, Ph.D. – Aquatic Ecologist, Professor and Protector of the Watershed Regions of Belize—was unable to attend.
2020
December 5th from 3-4:30, Henry Peller spoke about organic farming and seed saving techniques.
November
10th - the
Director of the
National Agriculture
Trade Show (NATS) Gary
Ramirez,
was guest speaker
via zoom. Topics for
discussion
were:
Improving
agriculture through
education; The
importance of food
security; and ways
to a successful
backyard gardening
program.
October
6th
Sustainable
Harvest
International
presentation
and coalition
building.
online with
Zoom.
Sept. 1st from 1:00 - 2:30
pm: an online zoom talk by Bill Lindo, the man
devoted to making regenerative changes in
agriculture in Belize.
August 4
- Kim Ringland, landscaping with
native plants. Venue was Hodes and
zoom. July 21 POB Annual General Meeting and visioning at 10am - noon, took place at Hodes in San Ignacio and via zoom
July
7th
- Online presentation:
Our
Forest is Our Future
Presented
by: Aurelio Sho, who is the
Communications Officer with the REDD+
Project under the
National
Climate Change Office with the Ministry
of Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment
and Sustainable Development
June
2nd - Zoom online presentation on
Agroforestry
March 3rd --Fay Garnett, Agriculture Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture. Her topic will be Agroforestry - a transformative option for building resilient and sustainable agriculture systems in Belize.
February 4th -- Ed Boles,
environmental educator. Topic: Water Preservation
and Soil Restoration in Belize. Ed spoke about the
impact of water on farming, horticulture, forest
and landscape restoration in Belize and ncluded
information about reforestation programs happening
in Belize.
January 7th, Rosita
Arvigo, Doctor of Naturapathy,
ethnobotanist, spiritual healer, author of six books
on traditional healing of Central America,
co-founder of The Belize Ethnobotany Project with
Dr. Michael Balick of the New York Botanical
Gardens, international speaker, founder of Ix Chel
Tropical Research Centre in Belize, founder of the
Rainforest Medicine Trail, Terra Nova Medicinal
Plant Reserve, children’s Bush Medicine Summer Camp
in Belize, thirteen-year apprentice to the one of
the last Maya
shamans, Don Elijio Panti, recipient of The Earth
Award, 2007, founder of The
Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy
and courses in Maya Spiritual Healing.2019
November 5th - Esther
Sanchez Sho, Programs Director of Friends
for Conservation and Development program director
will give a presentation about innovative farming
projects in the Vaca region.
October 1st - Deborah Harder, author of "Fruits, Roots and Shoots:
Using Tropical Plants for Self Sufficiency"
September 3rd -
Dr. Robin Clark
August 6th -Round table discussion about seeds, soil, and growing healthy plants.
July 2nd - Rudy Aguilar of Belize Botanic
GardensAugust 6th -Round table discussion about seeds, soil, and growing healthy plants.
June 4th -Mr.
Cruz of BAHA was our guest speaker along with BAHA's
Technical Director for the Plant Health Services, Mr.
Francisco Gutierrez
May 7th - Panel Discussion...Strategies
and advantages for growing plants to save seeds --
toward developing a seed bank, library,
and directory. Outcome: Pro-organic Belize will spearhead campaign to provide open-pollinated heirloom seeds by working with local pesticide-free farmers.
April 9th -Our guest speaker was Ina Snachez, Director of Research, Innovation and Development at Central Farm. The focus was sustainable agricultural research and positive projects that are being developed to help Belizean farmers grow healthier crops.
March 5 - Marco Figueroa was our guest speaker. His informative topic was on growing and processing organic chocolate.
Mr. Figueroa shared methods on sustainable methods to
grow and process cacao.
February 5 -Our
guest speaker was Roxanna Alvarez, Director of UB Central
Farm campus (UBCF) We learned about the curriculum and the
strong prospects offered to graduates of the program and for
the future of agriculture in Belize. Dr. Alvarez welcomed
our input including suggestions and discussions about the
program toward providing healthy food and food security in
Belize. January 8 -Santiago Juan's presentation included a wealth of knowledge and advice about methods of how to successfully farm in Belize using agro-natural farming to grow familiar and underutilized crops that thrive in the tropics. He also focused on how Pro-Organic Belize and other like-minded groups can work together to help educate and suppot Belize farmers... to nourish the soil and use native seeds and plants to promote food security without the use of toxic agro-chemicals.
2018
November 6 - Exploring the Potential of Industrial Hemp in Belize Panel Discussion
October 2 - Stephen Zitzer will speak on and lead discussion on "Biodiversity, the Beauty, the Beast and Some Significant Science."
September 4th - SOIL - the key to growing healthy crops....presentation by video featuring Neil Kinsey - a leading soil specialist.
August 7th - Cynthia Ellis-Topsey is a mentor for sustainability in Belize. She is a spokesperson for recognition and for preservation of the traditions and roots of the Garifuna culture. A pioneer for Belize Rural Women Association, she has helped improve many lives. Through her love of farming and agriculture, Cynthia has promoted innovative programs in Belize, such as school garden projects and the preservation and growth of the El Pilar Forest Garden. One of her goals is to help people help themselves. Cynthia included in her presentation a story about a recent project: Jane Usher Boulevard Neighborhood urban gardening project and the grow houses in Belize City, which is destined to become a cooperative for the participants.
July 3rd - Justin Hayes discussed principles of Permaculture, agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient in the tropics.
June 5 - Abner Valldares gave an interseting presentation on raising bees and gathering organic honey on an organic farm.
May 1st - Lorcia Moore, the founder and owner of Naturally Belize Coconut Products. Naturally Belize makes virgin raw coconut oil and utilizes the by-products of the coconut. Lorcia was recognized in March by the US Embassy as "Young Entrepreneur of the Month".
April 3rd - Arnoldo Melendez spoke about the work Selva Maya is doing to teach, while protecting, and restoring some of the most pristine lands in Central America. http://selvamaya.info/en/mayan-rainforest/protected-areas/
March 6th, 2018- The March 6th speaker was William Usher, who has a long history of supporting the organic farming movement in Belize. He is a gifted speaker and founder of BAEL micro-organisms, and is presently a counselar with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
February 6th, 2018 - Guest speakers for this meeting was Michael Richardson who spoke on visioning for Belize and how Pro-Organic Belize can make a difference in support of healthy food initiatives in Belize.
January 9th, 2018 - Dr. Victoriano Pascual, Director of Water Resource Management and Climate Change in Belize. Dr. Pascual's presentation featured predictions and strategies to sustain healthy agriculture in Belize and toward understanding how climate change may affect local weather patterns.
2017
December 2017 - Year end celebration, on the 19th. Pot luck and recipe member party that included new member sign up and dues for 2018. $25/pp, $100/business (to include free display ad). Call for details (626-9017). New members can sign up online.
November 2017 - Informative, well-done documentary film called DIRT.
October 5, 2017 - Kimmer Ringland discussed medicinal backyard and garden herbs.
September 7, 2017 -
September’s featured speaker was Mr. Kadeem Bennett, of The Urban Garden for Food Security and Peace, which is headquartered in Belize City. Kadeem is also the founder of The Belize Volunteers Club. To learn more about him and the Urban Garden for Food Security and Peace, go to the following link:
August 3, 2017 – Chrissie Tupper of Cheers Restaurant and owner of the farm behind the restaurant (which sources all the eggs served in Cheers) will share her experiences Getting Started with Backyard Poultry in Belize, including Chickens of Various Breeds, Ducks, Guinea Fowl, and Geese. Bring your questions!
July 6, 2017 – Dr. Johnathan Canton and Amy Jenine Wong of Kunahmul Organics will speak on Growing and Marketing Challenges of Organic Production in Belize. Johnathan will discuss the biological perspective and Amy will lead on marketing challenges.
June 1, 2017 – Dr. Anabel Ford, president of Exploring Solutions Past – The Maya Forest Alliance, Maya Gardening and the Maya Forest Garden.
May 4, 2017 – Chris Harris, owner of White Rock Farm will discuss retiring on a small self-sustaining farm.
April 6, 2017 –POB referred our members and guests to attend the presentation by Dr Stephanie Seneff of MIT on the dangers of glyphosate, at University of Belize, College of Agriculture at Central Farm, 1:30 -3:30.
March 2, 2017 – Tom Sagee of Green Sun Ltd, on hydroponics and aquaponics
February 2, 2017 –
Dr. Thomas Mathew of The Belize Spice Farm in Golden
Stream, Toledo District, spoke about the history and
growing of spices, in his native Kerala, India and in
Belize.
January 5, 2017 –
Gary Ramirez, the head of Research and Development at
Ministry of Agriculture, Central Farm, spoke about ongoing
projects with focus on seed production. 2016
March 1, 2016 – David Johansen of Our Heritage Seed
April 5, 2016 – Abram Harder of Upper Barton Creek owner of Variety Fruit Nursery
May 3, 2016 – Sam Vigue, of Texas on potato history and cultivation
June 7, 2016 – David Thiessen of Agro-Base, Spanish Lookout, on fertilizers
July 5, 2016 – Michael Somerville, of Hattieville, Belize District, author of The Garbage Menace, on GMO potential in Belize.
August 1, 2016 – Nana Mensah of BOFF (Belize Organic Family Farming) and formerly 10 yrs manager of SHI (Sustainable Harvest International) Belize office in Punta Gorda, Toledo District, who presented information which was to be presented to PCB (Pesticide Control Board) on the non-renewal (ban) of glyphosate in Belize
September 6, 2016 – Marco Figueroa, Cayo native, former technical advisor to TCGA (Toledo Cacao Growers Association) and currently international cacao consultant, on cacao: history and cultivation.
October 4, 2016 – Mike Benetti of Esperanza Fertilizer on organic fertilizers.
November 3, 2016 – Santiago Juan of San Lorenzo Farm, Cayo District on Moringa and Food Security
December 2016 – There was no speaker as POB had a members only party instead.