ICOOP2025 Wraps Up with a Call to Strengthen the Global Cooperative Advantage

The 5th International Conference on Cooperatives (ICOOP2025) concluded its two-day virtual sessions with global experts underscoring cooperatives’ role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and sharing key insights and best practices for community-empowering, cooperative-led development.

Organized by the Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, ICOOP2025 is a global academic conference held every three years to convene scholars, policymakers, cooperative leaders, and development practitioners. This year’s event coincides with the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting how cooperatives contribute to inclusive growth, social equity, and sustainable development worldwide.

“We do not exaggerate … when we affirm that cooperatives are perhaps the greatest social innovation of the modern era. Because today, in the 21st century, after more than two centuries of proven experience, cooperatives continue to offer valid, up-to-date solutions to the challenges of globalization,” said Ariel Guarco, President of the International Cooperative Alliance.

​Building on Day 1’s research-driven discussions on cooperatives’ contributions to sustainability and resilience, Day 2 showcased studies on how cooperatives enhance community well-being, spur economic innovation, strengthen governance systems, and nurture youth leadership.​

The second day also placed a spotlight on the next generation of cooperative leaders. Jay-vee Pangan, chairperson of Youth Connect Cooperative, emphasized intergenerational collaborations as a strategic approach towards promoting a more youth-oriented and inclusive cooperative movement. Echoing this point, Dulce Bustamante, chairperson of the ICA-AP Committee on Youth Cooperation, underscored that cooperatives thrive when they invest in succession planning and mentorship, giving future leaders the opportunity to “learn and lead.”

​Another key moment on Day 2 was the recognition of the paper titled “The Role of Organizational Health in Shaping Employee Job Satisfaction: Insights from Cooperatives in Southern Nueva Vizcaya,” authored by Serapio Castriciones and Margel Aira Tangunan of Nueva Vizcaya State University-Bamba   ng Campus, as ICOOP2025’s Best Research Paper.

ICOOP2025 also honored the cooperative story titled “Stewards of Land and Livelihood: A Cooperative Model for Environmental and Social Inclusion in Palawan,” by the Sabang Sea Ferry Multipurpose Cooperative, conferring the Outstanding Cooperative Story Award for its exceptional contributions to member welfare, innovation in service delivery, and meaningful impact on community development. ​

With over 300 participants from 18 countries, representing academe, government, youth groups, and the cooperative sector, the conference built strong momentum for recognising and scaling the global impact of cooperatives.

“Globally, the world is getting a little bit fractured... but within this fracture, one thing must remain: humans will remain humans and we are creatures of collaboration. We can only grow and prosper together, and that is the key function of cooperatives—to make the world safer, better, greener, and more prosperous,” said Andrew Allimadi of the United Nations Secretariat, in his keynote message.

​ICOPED Director and ICOOP2025 Chair, Dr. Karen Q. Custodio, formally closed the conference with a call to deepen stakeholder collaborations and partnerships in shaping the future of cooperative development. She also invited participants to join ICOPED once again for the next ICOOP in 2028.

JTMacandog

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ICOOP2025 is made possible through the generous support of its partners and sponsors:

• Platinum Sponsors: Cooperative College of the Philippines, CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, and the National Federation of Cooperative Primaries in the Philippines
• Gold Sponsor: Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD)
• Silver Sponsors: Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Société de Coopération pour le Développement International (SOCODEVI)
• Bronze Sponsor: ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative; Asian Social Project Services Inc. (ASPSI)
• Grant Partner: UP Office of International Linkages (UP OIL) ​