Kang Ho-dong re-elected to lead ICAO for four more years
Kang took office as ICAO president in July 2024. Since then, he has served on the ICA board and the board of the ICA Asia-Pacific regional office, working to strengthen cooperation among agricultural cooperatives and promote farmers’ rights globally
PANAMA CITY, September 15, 2026 — Kang Ho-dong, chairman of South Korea’s National Agricultural Cooperative Federation [NACF], has been re-elected president of the International Cooperative Agricultural Organisation [ICAO], the global body representing agricultural cooperatives.
His new term will run for four years. The re-election also sees him return to the board of the International Cooperative Alliance [ICA].
Kang was re-elected ICAO president at the organisation’s general assembly held on Monday in Panama City, Panama, where the ICA Global Conference and Assembly is taking place from September 13 to 18, 2026.
Founded in 1951, the ICAO is the agricultural arm of the ICA, which represents about 1 billion cooperative members worldwide. The ICAO currently has 45 agricultural cooperative organisations from 35 countries among its members. South Korea’s Nonghyup has served as the chair organisation since 1998.
Kang took office as ICAO president in July 2024. Since then, he has served on the ICA board and the board of the ICA Asia-Pacific regional office, working to strengthen cooperation among agricultural cooperatives and promote farmers’ rights globally.
Last year, to mark the United Nations-designated International Year of Cooperatives 2025, the ICAO held its general assembly in Seoul, where members adopted the “ICAO Seoul Declaration”.
The declaration calls for stronger food security measures, greater action on the climate crisis, support for young and women farmers, promotion of agricultural values, protection of farmers’ rights, adoption of advanced agricultural technologies and deeper solidarity among cooperatives.
Kang has also worked to promote the “Nongsimcheomsim” movement internationally. The concept holds that the hearts of farmers reflect the will of heaven. He has shared South Korea’s cooperative development experience through training programmes for delegations from member organisations and global leadership capacity-building initiatives.
With his re-election, Kang will lead the ICAO for another four years. He was also reappointed to the ICA board, a position he holds by virtue of serving as ICAO president.
“In the face of crises confronting global agriculture — from climate change to food security — cooperative solidarity has never been more urgent,” Kang said.
“Building on the spirit of the Seoul Declaration, we will work together as the world’s agricultural cooperatives to overcome these crises and open a sustainable future for farming and rural communities where farmers are respected.”
https://thecooperator.news/cooperative-youth-present-participating-and-leading/
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