ILO Director-General explains why co-ops are key to feeding the world

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has expressed its support for World Food Day. In a statement released today, ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, underlined "the role of agricultural co-operatives in food production and assuring food security – as well as the jobs created and livelihoods sustained in the process."

Mr Ryder said: "As the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) draws to a close, it is appropriate to re-affirm today the value of the co-operative model – and of agricultural co-operatives in particular in ensuring that all can enjoy the right to food – and as vehicles for decent lives, decent work and sustainable development.

"Let our actions reinforce the co-operative movement and enable co-operatives to go from strength-to-strength, capable of generating decent jobs and building vibrant and resilient agricultural communities as they produce to feed families, communities and the world."

The ILO Director-General further explained that in order for co-ops to succeed, it is necessary to make sure they benefit from a favourable environment. Mr Ryder said co-ops increase the food production and give farmers access to market, enabling them to obtain better prices for their products. Furthermore, argued Mr Ryder, co-ops enable farmers' access to financial services. As a legal entity, co-ops are more easily accepted by banks, which is not the case with individual farmers.

He added: “Agricultural co-operatives have offered an effective organisational basis for realising the right to food for all, particularly for the working poor in the rural and informal economies and also for empowering rural women and supporting their important contribution to food production and food security.”

He continued: "As we strive for a more, just world, let us exchange experience, build on it and introduce policies and regulations, education and training programmes and capacity building initiatives that will allow the co-operatives to take root and flourish."

The ILO is the international organisation responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. It is the only 'tripartite' United Nations agency that brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes promoting Decent Work for all.