Women entrepreneurs champion agricultural sustainability, transformation in RVR SIKLAB Awards
Two visionary businesswomen were honored for driving agricultural innovation and empowering Filipino farmers through their companies in the 2025 RVR SIKLAB Awards, demonstrating a deep commitment to nation-building and corporate citizenship.
Cherrie Atilano of AGREA Agricultural Systems International Inc. and Juca Lacsina of GOEden (Zion Agricultural Services Inc.) won the prestigious recognition this year. Named after renowned Filipino industrialist and PHINMA founder Amb. Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr., the Awards celebrate young outstanding entrepreneurs who have positively impacted their industries and communities through their businesses.
As founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of AGREA, Atilano has been leading a decade-long mission to make agriculture inclusive, sustainable, and profitable for smallholder farmers across the Philippines. Through a unique combination of for-profit and nonprofit initiatives, AGREA has empowered more than 30,000 farmers, rescued over 200,000 kilograms of produce, and significantly increased farmers’ incomes.
From launching the AGREA Farm School to organizing the Women Food Producers Association, Atilano has been a steadfast advocate for food security, environmental stewardship, and women’s empowerment in agriculture. Her global recognition—as a UN Food Systems Champion and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader—underscores her role in advancing the country’s agricultural agenda on the world stage.
“We’ve witnessed this transformation firsthand. Women who once saw themselves as ‘just housewives’ now lead with pride, their hands nurturing not just plants, but possibilities. Farmers who once said ‘magsasaka lang ako’ now build homes from their harvest, understanding that they are not the poorest of the poor, but the richest guardians of our nation’s future,” said Atilano in her speech during the awarding ceremony last August 4 at the Manila Polo Club, Makati City.
Lacsina’s leadership has likewise reshaped how Filipino farmers access essential agricultural products and services. The GOEden co-founder and CEO oversaw the development of a pioneering digital platform linking farmers—particularly those in remote areas—to over 4,000 products from more than 65 suppliers.
Since its founding in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, GOEden has revolutionized the agricultural supply chain through innovations like custom-built e-commerce systems and on-the-ground Tech Caravans which enhance logistics, ensure product authenticity, and educate farmers on proper agri-input use.
“We’re fostering a new narrative where rural communities aren’t just beneficiaries of technology, but partners in progress, where young talent doesn’t have to leave their hometowns to build meaningful careers. Where transparency isn’t negotiable, and corruption has no place in serving those who feed our nation. Every challenge, from logistics hurdles to standing firm against corruption, has strengthened our resolve. We’ve learned that ethical entrepreneurship isn’t the easy path, but it’s the only path that leads to lasting change and genuine nation-building,” said Lacsina in a mix of English and Filipino.
The Awards are jointly organized by PHINMA Corporation and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, which houses the PHINMA-DLSU Center for Business and Society (PDCBS). Atilano and Lacsina join other RVR Awardees who will serve as real-life case studies for the Center in teaching students about business as a force for good.