Organic resources that were overlooked or taken for granted in the past are now becoming recognized as valuable assets by farmers and entrepreneurs. A scarcity of new lands for agriculture requires more efficient use of diminishing organic resources as livestock feed and organic fertilizers. Garbage that previously accumulated in urban areas, resulting in unhealthy, unpleasant living conditions, is now being recycled and processed into useful, low-cost products. Members of the research and development community recognized lost opportunity for organic resource management in both rural and urban settings and many projects are now underway to make better use of garbage, manure, crop residues, traditional plants, agro-industrial wastes and other forms of organic materials. However, such efforts too often remain unknown to other concerned practitioners and stakeholders, in part because many resource constraints are viewed as localized by those who strive to find solutions to their immediate problems. In the belief that substantial gains are being made in the use of organic resources but that these accomplishments are insufficiently communicated among farmers, entrepreneurs, agricultural extension specialists, grassroots organizations, policy makers and research scientists, a national Forum on Organic Resource Management and Agricultural Technologies (FORMAT) was held in Nairobi on 19 and 20 September 2000. FORMAT attracted 150 participants, mostly from Kenya but also included invitees from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. Participants made many new contacts and shared their philosophies concerning development, but with special focus upon the demonstration and distribution of pioneering technologies, processes and products involving organic materials. The event consisted of 32 technical presentations and 76 exhibits and was open to the general public during its second afternoon. Prizes were awarded to six outstanding exhibitors, three each for innovative organic resource management and for best on-farm problem solving. The need for more effective collaboration and information sharing on organic resource management was emphasised during the final session of FORMAT. Similar events are likely to be held in the future.