Co-ops from around the world come together next month at the world’s first international agro-industrial co-operative conference in Argentina.
Organised by the Confederación Intercooperativa Agropecuaria Limitada (Coninagro), the conference is held on 11 September at the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange – and co-operatives from countries Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic will take part. Among those to confirm attendance is Mondragón, the Spanish federation of worker co-ops based in the Basque Country.
A Coninagro spokesperson said: “It will be an opportunity to explore the synergies between the members of the international agro-industrial co-operative movement. And we will gather key players from the co-op movement here in Argentina, who embody co-operative values and recognise the potential for further development.”
The conference, which look at where the agro-industrial co-op movement stands in the world economy, and where it is heading, opens with a political session with governors of leading Argentine agro-industrial provinces. Later, representatives from public sector co-ops will explore opportunities for Argentine and international co-operation.14
Organisers said: “We want the conference to highlight co-operative enterprise success stories. It’s an opportunity to showcase examples of how the social economy has succeeded in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Spain, Italy and other countries.”
Delegates will be presented with successful case studies, including Vlastníků Puklice in the Czech Republic. Created in 1952 during the forced collectivisation of the communist era, the co-op now comprises 42 small and medium-sized producers, with 90% of its economic activity coming from pork and biogas production.
