International Co-operative Alliance President To G-8: Look To Cooperative Enterprise To Eliminate Food Insecurity

Nearly 1 billion people in low-income and developing countries face daunting challenges to feeding themselves and their families. Consequently, about 6 million children die of hunger each year. From their inception in the mid-1800s, cooperatives have focused on eliminating food insecurity -- first in urban England and now in urban and rural areas throughout the world.

On May 2, Dame Pauline Green, president of the International Co-operative Alliance, will address the impact of cooperative development on alleviating hunger at the Cooperative Issues Forum from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The 2012 Forum is co-sponsored by the Cooperative Development Foundation and the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council.

In her remarks, Dame Green will urge the G-8 to address food security and argue that developing cooperatives in these nations will provide a sustainable solution for hunger issues.

"Food security is an aspect of sustainable development that leads to greater national security," Green says. "Cooperatives are values-based businesses that offer a sustainable solution to many of the world's most pressing needs, from food security to gender equality. The United Nations designated 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives, demonstrating its recognition of the power of this business model to do good in the world. The G-8 also must recognize the contribution cooperatives can make to addressing social and economic issues."

Green's words are supported by many others, including Jose Graziano da Silva, director general of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, who says, "FAO needs strong cooperatives and producer organizations as key partners in the effort to eliminate hunger."

Today, cooperatives have over 1 billion members worldwide and employ more than 100 million people. The top 300 cooperatives in the world have a combined worth of $1.6 trillion, equivalent to the ninth largest economy. Green and the International Co-operative Alliance believe "cooperatives could be the fastest-growing enterprises by the end of this decade."

To attend the Cooperative Issues Forum, register at www.cdf.coop.
About Dame Pauline Green:

From London Metropolitan Police officer to Member of the European Parliament to first women president in the 115-year history of the International Co-operative Alliance, Green has been a groundbreaker, an innovator and a fervent supporter of the critical role cooperatives play, not only in helping millions achieve food security, but also in democracy building, gender equality, income development, access to health care, finance, housing and more.

A dynamic leader and speaker, Green has been a committed cooperator, beginning as a local leader in the Woodcraft Folk. She served as assistant parliamentary secretary of the Cooperative Union from 1984-89; cooperative member of the European Parliament, 1989-2000; president of the Cooperative Congress, 1997; member of the Cooperative Commission, 2000; and chief executive of Cooperatives UK, 2000-09.

As president of ICA, Green is focusing the organization's activities on three key elements: offering the opportunity for business synergies to co-ops around the world; enhancing representation in global institutions; and developing a center of excellence for global cooperative knowledge and information. Her personal goal is to achieve recognition for the cooperative model of business within global institutions so the movement can continue to grow and expand in the coming decades.
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OCDC brings together organizations committed to building a more prosperous world through cooperatives. Its mission is to champion, advocate and promote effective international cooperative development. OCDC me