Cooperative Longevity and Sustainable Development in a Family Farming System

Abstract

This paper focuses on small holding, family farming in Southeast Spain where agricultural economic activity is predominantly organized around cooperative business models. A variety of diverse studies on the Almería agricultural and credit cooperative sector and the exploration of social-economic and eco-social indicators, in addition to economic-market indicators are presented. Each correspond to a cooperative "logic" that spans theoretical perspectives from the dominant economic-market model, new institutionalism, and an eco-social approach, echoing theories on collective coordination governance, and the avoidance of the "tragedy of the commons". The latter is of particular importance given environmental challenges and scarce resources for agricultural activity. The cooperatives in Almería have increasingly relied on collective collaboration and coordination in order to meet social-economic and social-ecological challenges, transforming their role from that founded on a market dominant logic to that of cooperation as a coordination mechanism based on the mutual benefit of the community and environment. In turn, their ability to meet a wide range of needs and challenges of members and the community leads to their longevity. Cooperatives are able to act as both a market and non-market coordination mechanism, balancing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, such that neither market nor non-market logics are dominant or exclusive.

Does Participation in Agricultural Cooperatives Affect Farm Sustainability? Empirical Evidence from Taiwan

“…For example, because farmers are often older and less educated, cooperatives can establish outreach activities to visit farms and provide them with relevant information. One example of a successful model includes the Almería Agricultural Cooperatives in Southwest Spain [32]. These cooperatives function as a market and non-market coordination mechanism for both individuals and local institutions, such as contributing to knowledge systems related to farm labor and employing agricultural technicians to reduce the usage of pesticides [32].…”

“…One example of a successful model includes the Almería Agricultural Cooperatives in Southwest Spain [32]. These cooperatives function as a market and non-market coordination mechanism for both individuals and local institutions, such as contributing to knowledge systems related to farm labor and employing agricultural technicians to reduce the usage of pesticides [32]. Similarly, many food certifications also require environmentally friendly production practices, such as organic farming.…”

Cooperative Longevity: Why Are So Many Cooperatives So Successful?

“…Giagnocavo et al focus on cooperatives active in the fruit and vegetable industry of Almeria, Spain [10]. They review a number of studies on these organizations and conclude that the longevity and survival of these organizations are linked to their ability to constantly adapt to industry crises and challenges.…”

Membership in agricultural producer organizations and farm technical efficiency in Slovakia

“…EC (2019b); Chlebicka and Pietrzak (2018). Giagnocavo et al (2018) showed that companies with a cooperative structure for marketing, financing, processing and other collective services, are an effective organizational coordination mechanism for small-scale farmers. They found longevity and high ability of the cooperatives, relying on collective collaboration, to meet the needs and challenges of both members and the community.…”