Background: A woman, a farm, and a mission Every harvest begins with a seed. But the story of Pestales Agriculture Cooperative began with something else—a question. Why do the people who work the hardest often earn the least? I am Jenalyn A. Entoy, Chairperson and Founder of Pestales Agriculture Cooperative, a grassroots social enterprise committed […]
What does it take to connect small-scale farmers with public schools, government food programs, and other institutional buyers? Today is Day 1 of the Learning and Documentation Workshop on School Feeding and Institutional Food Procurement. Participants from 12 agri-cooperatives began exploring this question by sharing their experiences, challenges, innovations, and lessons from engaging with school […]
The Philippines is taking steps toward a more coordinated national approach to agroecological transition, as Philippine members of the Agroecology Coalition (AE) met with leaders of the Department of Agriculture to discuss how agroecology can be strengthened in national policies and practice. The consultation, organized by the Agroecology Coalition in Quezon City, Philippines on 7 […]
Cotabato City, Philippines — Cooperative leaders from across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will convene on June 29–30, 2026, in Cotabato City for the BARMMCoops Leadership Conference, themed “BARMM Cooperatives Advancing Integrated Diversified Organic Family Farming Systems (IDOFFS) and Inclusive Public Food Procurement for Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods.” The conference will […]
BARMMCOOPS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCEBARMM Cooperatives together with PAKISAMA, AFA, and AGRICOOPH Advancing IDOFFS and Inclusive Public Food Procurement for Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods June 29-30, 2026 | Peñafrancia Safe Haven Hostel, Cotabato City Through the SPADe-supported Integrated Diversified Organic Family Farming System (IDOFFS) initiative in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), PAKISAMA has […]
Butuan City, Philippines — On 22-23 October 2025, the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and its partner cooperatives joined over 200 farmers, fisherfolk, cooperative leaders, experts, and innovators at the Knowledge Fair 2025, organized by the GIZ Philippines and the Pacific Island Countries under the project “Strengthening the Implementation of Regional and Local Peace and Development Agendas in […]
Cebu, Philippines – In 2014, a small group of 23 individuals founded the Pestales Agriculture Cooperative, which is currently based in Hayunan, Jampang, Argao, Cebu, Region VII, Philippines. At the time, Jenalyn Entoy and her friends were visiting Caleriohan, Dalaguete, Cebu, unaware that a transformative journey in sustainable farming was just beginning. With only a […]
Surigao del Sur, Philippines — A new aroma fills the air in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur as the Progressive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PARBEMCO) Youth Committee officially opened ParbemCafé on December 11, 2024. Through the AFA SPADe Project—Empowering Women and Youth in Cooperatives—the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) supported PARBEMCO’s young entrepreneurs with a […]
