Eduardo Cleofe
Eduardo B. Cleofe is a Cooperative Advisor of Agriterra in the Philippines. Ed is a practicing ecological farmer and agri entrepreneur who brings with him years of experience in the field of agriculture including business development and management aspects. His unwavering involvement in advancing the concept of farming that cares, fair, healthy and environment-friendly has been recognised by some institutions such as the academe and the government.
He is an avowed advocate of cooperativism, especially among smallholder farmers which he believes is a vehicle and means to advance the interests and welfare of this particular sector of society. His stint as a founding cooperator/manager of an upstart organic farmers cooperative and membership in other agri-based groups gives him a broader perspective and firsthand knowledge of the dynamics and intricacies of cooperatives including the associated challenges and limitations.
He brings with him a technical knowhow of the agriculture sector owing to his training as a graduate of BS Agricultural Engineering from the University of the Philippines Los Banos. He has an advanced degree in business administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business where he honed his understanding of the business environment and how it works. He is a believer of lifelong learning which is why he has been participating in various trainings and programs since his involvement in the agriculture sector.
He also contributes in the long running Farm Business School (FBS) program - which is being offered by a government and private group partnership - by being one of the regular resource persons specifically in the area of value-adding. The lessons he shares are based on his experience as owner and operator of Luntiang Republika Ecofarms Corporation - an agribusiness that is into processing, farm tourism, trainings and crops/livestock enterprises.
Integrity, fortitude, commitment and hardwork to realise the aspirations of Agriterra and all the farmers - will be among the values that he promises to adhere to while serving the organisation.
