Kang reelected ICAO president at general assembly in Panama City; also reappointed ICA board member

45 agricultural cooperative organizations from 35 countries are members; Korea's Nonghyup has chaired since 1998

Kang vows to strengthen global agricultural cooperative solidarity to address climate crisis and food security

Kang Ho-dong (second from left), chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, poses with vice presidents after being reelected president of the International Cooperative Agricultural Organisation at its general assembly in Panama City, Panama, on Monday (local time). [NACF]
Kang Ho-dong (second from left), chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, poses with vice presidents after being reelected president of the International Cooperative Agricultural Organisation at its general assembly in Panama City, Panama, on Monday (local time). [NACF]

Kang Ho-dong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, has been reelected president of the International Cooperative Agricultural Organisation, the global body representing agricultural cooperatives. His new term runs four years. The reelection also returns him to the board of the International Cooperative Alliance.

The federation announced Tuesday that Kang was reelected ICAO president at the organization's general assembly held Monday (local time) in Panama City, Panama.

Founded in 1951, the ICAO is the agricultural arm of the ICA, which represents about 1 billion cooperative members worldwide. It currently counts 45 agricultural cooperative organizations from 35 countries among its members. Korea's Nonghyup has served as the chair organization 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 advance cooperation among agricultural cooperatives and expand the rights of farmers globally.

Last year, to mark the UN-designated International Year of Cooperatives 2025, the ICAO held its general assembly in Seoul, where members adopted the "ICAO Seoul Declaration" — a document calling for stronger food security, climate crisis response, support for young and women farmers, promotion of agricultural values, protection of farmers' rights, adoption of advanced agricultural technology, and deeper solidarity among cooperatives.

Kang has also worked to introduce the "Nongsimcheomsim" movement — the idea that the hearts of farmers reflect the will of heaven — to the international community, sharing Korea's cooperative development experience through training programs for member organization delegations and global leadership capacity-building initiatives.

With this reelection, Kang will lead the ICAO for another four years. He was also reappointed to the ICA board, a position he holds 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."


adastra@heraldcorp.com