In early December 2021, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the global apex organization for cooperatives, held its 33rd World Cooperative Congress in Seoul, Korea. Cooperators from around the globe participated both on-site and virtually.

The theme of the Congress was Deepening Our Cooperative Identity.

At the time, I was the Chair of the ICA Cooperative Identity Committee and the Chair of the Congress Planning Committee. With the support of University of Wisconsin Professor Emeritus Ann Hoyt, who wrote the report on the Congress, I offer this consensus viewpoint from the Congress: ·

• Consumer cooperatives are ethical, people-focused, locally based and democratically controlled enterprises with a true social purpose.
• Consumer cooperatives can spearhead positive change needed in our societies and cultures today.
• Consumer cooperatives seek a sustainable globe for future generations.
• Consumer cooperatives are committed to building inclusive societies and inclusive economies.
• Consumer cooperatives seek equity and equality for all consumers in securing access, affordability and quality in all products and services.
• Consumer cooperatives work to ensure ethical supply chains throughout the globe in both production and consumption.
• Consumer cooperatives have demonstrated and will always demonstrate a willingness and desire to serve the underserved and the unserved.
• Consumer cooperatives support culturally relevant education and training. · Consumer cooperatives are a unique cultural heritage of humanity as recognized by the United Nations and seek to preserve the cultures they serve.
•  Consumer cooperatives believe in the centrality of work life — decent work for all, an end to forced labor and child labor and a strong focus on defining the future of work in the emerging digital age.
• Consumer cooperatives excel in mutual self-help and demonstrate great resilience in responding to natural and human-caused disasters.
• Consumer cooperatives work in support of a culture of positive peace in local communities and in the world at large.

This sense of cooperative common ground was heartfelt and was expressed with significant emotion by Congress presenters and observers. At the same time, presenters and observers emphasized that external and internal challenges and opportunities loom large:

• Practical approaches to address climate change are critically needed. Consumer cooperatives around the world have an important role to play in their development.
• New technologies and new digital models must become a priority for consumer cooperatives with an emphasis on the development and refinement of cooperative platforms and the positive integration of artificial intelligence.
• Capital availability remains a significant issue, especially for new and expanding consumer cooperatives.
• A significantly greater focus on and funding of research, training and education is essential. ·
• Consumer cooperatives must raise the visibility and importance of our ILO, United Nations and G20 relationships.
• All statutory government control of and intervention in the operations of consumer cooperatives worldwide must be eliminated.

The 33rd World Cooperative Congress has opened a serious and sincere global discussion about cooperative common identity. Check out www.icaworldcoopcongress.coop for more details.