30 SEPTEMBER 2020, ROME -- The United Nations has named AGREA’s Founding Farmer, President and CEO,
Cherrie D. Atilano, as one of the 60 Food Systems Champions:a group that will help identify and rally communities around the most powerful ways to make our food systems stronger in all regions of the world
.
I am thrilled to be part of the UN Summit Food Systems Champions network. I am proud of being a Filipino farmer. I am excited on what I can share and strengthen in our current food systems,
Cherrie shared in a statement.
With her remarkable impact in the food and agriculture sector, this new designation and responsibility as a Food Systems Champion will support and strengthen Cherrie’s impact on the food and agriculture sector both nationally and globally. Last year, Cherrie was appointed by the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to be a high-level ambassador of the UN Scaling Up Nutrition Movement.
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This 2020, she was chosen as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, was appointed as a Board Member of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) based in Geneva Switzerland, Philippine Ambassadress on Food Security by the Department of Agriculture, and appointed as the President of the MIMAROPA Regional Farm Tourism Association.
ALSO READ: Cherrie Atilano, newest Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition director
The initial Food Systems Champions include youth and indigenous peoples’ leaders, smallholder farmers and scientists from across the globe, as well as principals from nutrition, health, climate, nature, gender, policy, producer, academic, business, finance and technology communities. Cherrie is also the only Filipino to be part of this group of champions.
The Champions will work closely with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Agnes Kalibata, to kick start activities in the build up to the Summit, including discussions on how to galvanize and build their networks to unleash ambitious new actions, innovative solutions, and plans to transform food systems in alignment with diverse local contexts.
This exciting and diverse group of leaders will jump start the Food Systems Champions Network to ensure the Food Systems Summit benefits from the input of the broadest and deepest set of food systems players,
Kalibata said.
This network will be the beating heart of the Summit over the coming months, and become the frontline of a new movement to transform global food systems for the better. The initial Champions will lead the call for a new movement to transform food systems, encouraging anyone involved in food systems to join the cause later this year online.
READ THE UN ARTICLE HERE: Leading advocates for transforming global food systems named ahead of milestone UN Summit