Today, come economic strife or extreme weather, the global co-operative movement is stronger than everNo toilets, expensive food of dubious quality, crowded housing. “It was a particularly bad time for the economy,” says Liz McIvor, manager of the UK- based Co-operative Heritage Trust. Open a Shared Interest share account today, from just £100 Learn moreBut that wasn’t the full thrust of their intent. Smallholder communities such as coffee farmers collectively provide around a third of the world’s food. By creating a co-operative, it helps them to form a stronger community and a powerful collective voice.