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Among the 500 Young Global Leaders from 130 countries in 2022, she is also Tatler Asia's Most Influential 2022 honouree
Agrea Philippines is an innovative business committed to eradicating poverty, promoting sustainability, and uplifting agriculture since 2014. Later on, it also became a platform for women's empowerment, food security, and zero-waste initiatives. The agribusiness soon garnered multiple acknowledgements: the United Nation’s Global Compact Agriculture Business Excellence Award in 2017, ASEAN Rural Poverty Eradication Leadership Award in 2019, and the COVID-19 Action champion at the UN Women 2020 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards.
Behind all these achievements, Agrea wouldn't make it this far without its president, Cherrie Atilano.
Related: What matters to me: Cherrie Atilano, Founder of Arcega Philippines
Cherrie Atilano: agricultural activist, advocate, CEO of Agrea, and the UN's ambassador for nutrition. In this piece, the female Filipino founding farmer voices out her story to inspire Tatler's readers.
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What are your projects in the last two years that you are most proud of? Why?
Cherrie Atilano (CA): I am so proud of the Women Food Producers Associations that we have a strong partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The two most inspiring projects are the urban farms in Payatas, Quezon City, where 200 women are growing their own food, surviving and thriving in the midst of the pandemic as they own their way to feeding their families with fresh vegetables from their homes and communal gardens. Another one is the women in Marinduque who are planting ginger and turmeric in a regenerative manner where taking good care of nature is given utmost importance while graduating from poverty in 20 months through sustainable farming livelihoods. These women are also tackling the basic issue of malnutrition at a household level, so we made sure that they were also trained for better nutrition so that they're able to eat healthy as a family.
More from Tatler: Meet Cherrie Atilano, The United Nation's New Nutrition Ambassador
Agrea Farm School has extended its community-based program in Laguna to make 'unbankable' farmers bankable. We designed a farm-to-table program with BPI Foundation that focused on empowering farmers to have financial literacy and access to financial institutions. It was so satisfying and fulfilling to see farmers opening their first bank account for the first time.
What challenges do you see now in your respective industry? How do you intend to help address these challenges?
CA: There is a massive problem with hunger but at the same time nutrition. As I am advocating for both food and nutrition security, this is for me a huge problem in the industry. With food prices skyrocketing on top of climate change and the instability of global trading, we need to make sure that we support our local farmers to increase their production in a sustainable way without jeopardizing our natural resources. This requires everyone to work together and break the silo to transform our food systems to be sustainable, resilient, and accessible for everyone.
Who do you look up to for guidance, inspiration, or mentorship?
CA: I have role models that I look up to both in my personal life and career. I make sure that these role models are also accessible to me in terms of guidance and mentorship. Every time I get challenged or disappointed, I visit our farmer partners and intently listen to them. I always get inspired and sustained to keep going. Lastly, my most loving family. They are my nucleus and a constant source of love, inspiration, and guidance.
In case you missed it: The "Women of Impact" 2022 List: Filipinas Who Have Made Their Mark
What can you say to those who'd like to follow in your footsteps?
CA: The world is demanding us more than ever to be compassionate and contemplative on how we use our resources to good use. The space for personal expression is widely open and accessible, especially with the intervention of social media, where you can now reach the world from the corner of your home, we need to be more mindful of how we can use our voice and influence to create impact positively and meaningfully.
Set your own measure of success and significance. Just focus on what you find purposefully meaningful for you to create impact, be intentional about it, and don't compare yourself with other people. Just focus, make a traction, collaborate with others, celebrate milestones, and from time to time, treat yourself for a good job well done.
What are your plans for the coming years and what keeps you going?
CA: I will continue working in uplifting the lives of Filipino farmers and magnifying our work with the Women Food Producers, and the youth who are the future generation of agriculture. In the coming years, I am so excited to globally advocate for food and nutrition security as well as the promotion of regenerative agriculture.
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Credits
Images: Jar Concengco
