Co-op News October 2019: Sustainable Development

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GLOBAL Agropur joins G7 business coalition to promote inclusive growth Canadian dairy co-op Agropur is teaming up with 33 other global companies to advance human rights throughout their value chains, build inclusive workplaces and strengthen inclusion in their internal and external business ecosystems. The Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) coalition is the first business-led initiative of its kind and will work with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It will focus on advancing the G7’s efforts to strengthen equality of opportunity, tackle regional disadvantages and fight gender discrimination. The coalition was launched on 23 August by French president Emmanuel Macron at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Biarritz, France. The 34 businesses have committed to investing US$1bn in more than 50 initiatives. The projects have already helped 100 million people. The coalition has developed a threepillar strategy, with a pledges on inequalities and advance human rights; workplace inclusion and diversity; and value chain inclusiveness. The businesses will also create an incubator to design or expand new inclusive business models and an inclusive growth financing forum, involving business, governments and philanthropic actors. The coalition will share its lessons during an annual board meeting, with CEOs and key figures from public and civil society sectors, including the International Labour Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Robert Coallier, CEO of Agropur, said: “We are very pleased to be part of the B4IG coalition and contribute, with our unique business model based on co-operative values, to the necessary shift towards more inclusive growth. “We believe we can generate positive social impacts by helping to build a stronger, more inclusive workplace and rural communities. These are important steps towards a more sustainable future, a vision that is embraced by our members p Business leaders from Agropur and the other companies announcing the Business for Inclusive Growth coalition and in line with our promise: ‘Better Dairy, Better World.’” Gabriela Ramos, OECD chief of staff and G7 Sherpa, said: “Growing inequality is one of the biggest social challenges in the world today. Sustainable economic growth means inclusive economic growth. It means giving every individual the opportunity to fulfil her or his potential, the chance not only to contribute to a nation’s growth but to benefit from it, regardless of their background or origins. “The OECD welcomes this initiative to involve some of the world’s most important companies to work hand in hand with governments and the OECD. We will continue to lead the way in its policy analysis, research and expertise.” USA US farming co-op launches landmark sustainability programme Land O’Lakes Sustain – the sustainable solutions arm of the US agri co-op – has partnered with global food producer Tate & Lyle to bolster the sustainability of 1.5 million acres of US-grown corn. The programme will use the Truterra Insights Engine – technology from Land O’Lakes Sustain – to help midwestern American corn farmers measure their efforts to protect the environment. Participants will receive customised support to help them make measurable improvements on greenhouse emissions, nitrogen efficiency, water and wind erosion and soil quality. Tate & Lyle aims to enable more sustainable farming practices, support its customers’ environmental initiatives and impact reporting, and increase transparency throughout the food and beverage industry. As part of the programme, Tate & Lyle will use the technology to access information on the enrolled acreage and have greater visibility of the improvements it is helping to drive in air and water quality and soil health, providing a more transparent value chain for its customers. Nick Hampton, Tate & Lyle CEO, said: “Corn is our main raw material and we are proud to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of US farmers. Through this unique programme, we are helping to protect farmer livelihoods and supporting their work to protect natural resources by encouraging sustainable agriculture best practices.” Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc, said: “As a farmer-owned co-operative, Land O’Lakes knows stewardship starts at the farm gate, with the farmer. The Truterra Insights Engine is changing the game for sustainability led by farmers and their retailers. It’s equipping them with new solutions that help protect the air, soil and water, and benchmark their progress in a way that’s meaningful.” 16 | OCTOBER 2019
CANADA Calgary Co-op pulls its business out of co-op distribution network Canadian retailer Calgary Co-op is to cease purchasing from procurement and distribution co-op Federated Co-operatives Ltd (FCL), which warns the decision will have a “significant” impact on its business. Calgary Co-op, which reported $1.3bn in sales in 2018, said in an email to its 400,000 members that will switch suppliers to the Alberta-based distribution arm of supermarket chain Save-On-Foods, a private company. The move takes effect in April 2020, although the retailer will still obtain gasoline and convenience store products from FCL. Calgary Co-op says the move will “better serve members and ensure long-term sustainability”, and allow it to add exclusive private brands to its range. Calgary Co-op spokeswoman, Sage Pullen McIntosh, said its food business “operates in an increasingly challenging economic and competitive market. “Positioning our food business model for unique differentiation will allow us to reflect our members’ needs. We are accountable to them.” Calgary Co-op will continue to work with an increasing number of local producers and stocking more local produce, she added, and will be hiring staff to deal with the change But FCL, which is collectively owned by 170 retail co-ops across the prairies of western Canada, said its largest wholesale customer’s decision to take its grocery business elsewhere will have a “significant” impact on its operations in Calgary and cut into its bottom line. FCL’s executive vice president for customer experience and stakeholder engagement, Vic Huard, said around 200 jobs will be affected in Calgary, and there would also be impact on jobs at its head office in Saskatoon. “It puts Calgary Co-op in a situation where they’re sourcing from a direct competitor, which for us, to be honest, raises all sorts of questions about the long term,” Huard said. But while Calgary Co-op’s decision is “disappointing”, Mr Huard says the business will recover. “We’ll weather this and come out the other side,” he added. Academic and co-op specialist Murray Fulton from the University of Saskatchewan told the Calgary Herald the switch to a private supplier is an unusual move for a co-op. “It’s certainly necessary for co-ops to be constantly adapting,” he added. “But under a co-op model, you’re part of a system and your success is dependent on the success of the entire system. And in this case, Calgary Co-op has decided to go out entirely on their own.” Toronto housing co-op receives $2.2m from Canadian government A housing co-op in Toronto has been awarded CA$2.2m (£1.3m) from the Canadian government’s National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF). Harmony “B” Housing Co-operation Corp is a 78-unit rental co-op in the heart of the city. The construction of its apartments and town houses was completed back in 1981, and the funds will enable the property to undergo repair and modernisation. The National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) is a pillar initiative of the Canadian government’s National Housing Strategy – and the largest programme of its kind in Canadian history. With a budget of $13.2bn (£8.1bn), NHCF gives priority to projects that help those in greatest need, including women and children fleeing family violence; indigenous peoples; veterans; young adults; people with disabilities and those dealing with mental health problems and addictions. The National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $55bn (£34bn) plan to create 125,000 new housing units; lift 530,000 families out of housing need; repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50%. Adam Vaughan, parliamentary secretary to the minister of families, children and social development, said: “Our government continues to invest in affordable housing here in Toronto and across Canada to improve the quality of life of those who need it most. With this funding, we are able to give a helping hand to individuals in need, and in doing so, we are contributing to the economic and social wellbeing of the entire community.” Vit Hrdlicka, treasurer of Harmony “B” Housing Co-operative, said: “We are pleased to receive $2.2m in financial commitment from the federal government under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund programme. Access to this funding will allow us to complete urgent repairs.” OCTOBER 2019 | 17
Page 1 and 2: OCTOBER 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMEN
Page 3 and 4: Sustainable development to build a
Page 5 and 6: NEWS ENERGY Octopus and Co-op Energ
Page 7 and 8: Food chief calls for action to tack
Page 9 and 10: ENVIRONMENT Co-op Group signs UN’
Page 11 and 12: RETAIL Retail societies grateful fo
Page 14 and 15: GLOBAL UPDATES GLOBAL Co-ops and cr
Page 18 and 19: IRELAND Lakeland Dairies co-op anno
Page 20 and 21: IRELAND Row continues over milk pri
Page 22 and 23: MEET... Meet … Michael Gidney, CE
Page 24 and 25: YOUR VIEWS FAIRTRADE FESTIVITIES? I
Page 26 and 27: Co-operative College centenary conf
Page 28 and 29: CO-OP PARTY GETS READY FOR ITS AGM
Page 30 and 31: DELIVERING DEVELOPMENT What has the
Page 32 and 33: SERVING UP CO-OP IDEAS ON A BRIGHTO
Page 34 and 35: SOCIAL BUSINESS: Safeguarding the f
Page 36 and 37: THE COLLAPSE OF THOMAS COOK Retail
Page 38 and 39: CO-OPS & THE SDGs “The 2030 Agend
Page 40 and 41: ICA-EU PARTNERSHIP The co-operative
Page 42 and 43: SDG 10 How are the ICA Asia-Pacific
Page 44 and 45: SDG 08 At Kigali, you will take par
Page 46 and 47: TECH & THE SDGs The UN Sustainable
Page 48 and 49: REVIEWS What does the future hold f
Page 50: DIARY CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Roch

Co-op News October 2019: Sustainable Development

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