I work at the intersection between science and business to address the transition towards sustainable agricultural models. It is not about choosing between producing and conserving, but about making decisions that make both things compatible in practice.
Founder and CEO of ATENS
Science serving the transformation of agriculture
I work with leaders, companies and institutions in the agri-food sector on strategic decisions that integrate science and long-term business viability.
I understand agriculture as a system of balances where every decision has technical, economic and environmental implications. In this context, science is not an isolated element, but the foundation on which viability is built.
My work as founder and CEO of ATENS has developed around a central question: how to produce quality food at scale without compromising natural resources. This has meant working in complex contexts, where sustainability cannot be approached as an abstract objective, but as an operational condition.
My training in Biology at the University of Milan and the Program for Management Development at ESADE Business School reinforce a way of thinking that I apply both in business and in the institutional sphere, especially in matters linked to food security.
Today, I collaborate with strategic actors so that science and business converge in models that work in practice and endure over time.
Career patH
My personal and professional journey has been shaped by adaptation and rigour. Emigrating to Italy and funding my studies in Biology was a formative experience that defined my way of working: discipline, autonomy and a focus on results.
In 2008, I took on the leadership and refounding of ATENS at a critical moment. It was a restructuring process that required difficult decisions, a redefinition of the model and the assumption of risks. That process gave rise to a consolidated agricultural biotechnology company, focused on biostimulation and crop protection.
For me, regeneration is not only a technical concept applied to soil. It is also a way of managing: working with limited resources, making responsible decisions and building models that can endure over time.
That approach has become more consolidated over time. As the context becomes more complex, the challenge is no longer only to move forward, but to decide well: to prioritise, to accept trade-offs and to maintain judgement even when there are no certainties.
I have worked in environments where every decision has technical, economic and human implications, and where the margin for error is limited. In that context, initial discipline evolves into something deeper: the ability to sustain decisions over time and to adapt without losing direction.
Science remains a foundation, but its value lies in how it is applied. Not as a theoretical framework, but as a tool to reduce uncertainty and build solutions that work in real conditions.
Over the years, my understanding of regeneration has also evolved. It is not only about improving systems, but about doing so without compromising what is essential. About building with a long-term vision and making decisions that continue to make sense over time.
The future from science
I have worked in environments where innovating is not enough: every advance must be translated into models that work at scale. This means embracing uncertainty and prioritising with judgement.
The challenge is operational: building solid production systems and making decisions today that will still make sense in ten or twenty years.
Ensuring the sustainability of the planet and the quality and safety of food is not a distant aspiration, but an immediate responsibility. It means moving towards more sustainable agricultural models, built together with farmers as an essential part of the solution.
I believe in science as the foundation of this transition: not as a discourse, but as a tool for making more informed, responsible and lasting decisions. It is what makes it possible to balance productivity, sustainability and economic viability.
My work has focused on bringing that science into practice, turning knowledge into models that work and endure over time.
That is also the approach with which I have built ATENS: integrating research and application to move towards a more regenerative agriculture, without giving up efficiency.
The challenge is not to choose between producing and conserving, but to do it well, with judgement, and with a vision that will still make sense in ten or twenty years.
I founded and lead ATENS with the aim of integrating science and business into agricultural models capable of enduring over time.
Pioneer and global benchmark in microorganisms
From the outset, the focus has been clear: to bring scientific knowledge into practice by developing microorganism-based solutions that improve soil health and crop productivity. But beyond technology, the work has consisted of validating that these approaches can work in real conditions and at scale.
ATENS has been built around that standard: ensuring that innovation does not remain in the laboratory, but translates into models that farmers can adopt and that are economically viable. This means working at the intersection between research, production and decision-making, in contexts where uncertainty is part of the process.
Today, the company combines a solid scientific foundation (publications and patents) with implementation across multiple geographies, demonstrating that it is possible to move towards a more regenerative agriculture without giving up efficiency or growth.
More than a technological proposal, ATENS is a way of working: applying scientific rigour to build agricultural systems that work, endure and generate long-term value.
“I met Veronica years ago as a neighbor, but over time I’ve discovered a great professional — rigorous and effective. Her work at Atens has been low-profile but tremendously impactful, consolidating the company and building a sustainable and prestigious business with an R&D area that promises an extraordinary future. I’m proud to call her a friend and to have supported her whenever needed.”
“Veronica Cirino impresses with her unique combination of scientific rigor and entrepreneurial spirit. Her passion for science and nature, together with her strategic vision at Atens, has achieved something fundamental and inspiring: proving that conventional agriculture can be profitable, sustainable, and environmentally respectful.”
“Veronica Cirino is an outstanding professional, always ready to discuss new scientific discoveries and translate academic knowledge into biotechnological applications.”
“Veronica is exceptional in every way. A highly capable and dedicated CEO with visionary leadership and an empathetic approach. I have the utmost personal and professional respect for her.”
“Veronica has successfully promoted the commercial use of beneficial microorganisms in agriculture with outstanding professionalism.”
“Veronica has great capacity for work — she is brave and determined. We thank her for trusting IRTA for so many years.”
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