Ms. Cherrie Atilano is a multi-awarded Filipino social entrepreneur and agricultural leader whose lifelong commitment to farmers began at the age of 12, when she started teaching fellow farmers while growing up in the sugarcane farming communities of the Philippines. She is the Founder and CEO of AGREA, a purpose-driven agribusiness advancing sustainable and regenerative agriculture, inclusive value chains, and resilient rural economies.
She also serves as Chairperson of the AGREA Foundation, which works with farming communities and partners across the Philippines and ASEAN to advance sustainable agriculture, rural development, women’s economic empowerment, and youth leadership in agriculture. She founded one of the first farm schools in the Philippines, expanding access to practical agricultural education and skills development in rural communities.
For more than two decades, Ms. Atilano has worked at the intersection of agriculture, climate action, food systems transformation, and inclusive economic development, supporting thousands of smallholder farmers.
A recognized global voice for farmers and sustainable food systems, Ms. Atilano was named a United Nations Food Systems Champion for her leadership and contributions to advancing sustainable and equitable food systems. She brings extensive expertise in multi-stakeholder collaboration, building partnerships across governments, businesses, civil society, development institutions, academia, and farming communities to address complex challenges and drive systemic change. Her work focuses on strengthening the agency and economic participation of women in agriculture, cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders, and ensuring that farmers and rural communities are meaningfully represented in decisions that shape food systems and landscapes.
Ms. Atilano brings extensive governance experience through her service on national and international boards, combining strategic leadership and global perspective with a deep understanding of the realities facing farmers and rural communities. Despite her engagement in global policy and leadership spaces, she remains deeply rooted in field-based work and committed to translating global ambitions into practical, locally grounded solutions.
She holds a degree in Agriculture from Visayas State University and has completed executive education programs at Wageningen University, Stanford University, the Swedish Institute, and Harvard Kennedy School. In 2026, she was selected as an Eisenhower Fellow in the Innovative Entrepreneurs Program, joining a global network of leaders committed to advancing a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world.