Search

The digital transformation of farmer cooperatives significantly promotes the digital rural strategy. However, due to funding and scale constraints, the digital transformation of farmer cooperatives requires government and market participation. To explore the roles of the government and market in the digital transformation of farmer cooperatives, this study constructs a tripartite game model involving farmer cooperatives, consumers, and the government, analyzing stakeholders' decisions and effects. The research results show that, first, under certain conditions, the strategies of the government, farmer cooperatives, and consumers can lead the system to evolve into stable states of (1,0,0) or (1,1,1). Second, critical parameters influencing the digital transformation of farmer cooperatives exist, with discernible thresholds. In the context of this study, the digital subsidy coefficient and the degree of propaganda for consumption upgrade should range between 0.4 and 0.45 and between 0.45 and 0.5, respectively. Consumers' high-quality consumption preferences should be between 0.5 and 0.6, whereas high-quality consumption utility should be between 75 % and 80 % of the existing level. Third, in the short term, the digital transformation of farmer cooperatives requires policy-driven initiatives; in the long term, market-bent initiatives become essential. • Integrate the government, farmer cooperatives and consumers into the same dynamic system for analysis. • Constructed a government and consumer collaboration model to promote digital transformation of farmer cooperatives. • The critical parameters influencing the digital transformation of farmer cooperatives exist with discernible thresholds. • The digital transformation of farmer cooperatives requires short-term policy-driven, long-term market-bent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses challenges in agricultural cooperative autonomous fleet routing through the proposition, modeling, and resolution of the Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Fair Profits and Time Windows (DVRP-FPTW). The aim is to dynamically optimize routes for a vehicle fleet serving tasks within assigned time windows, emphasizing fair and efficient solutions. Our DVRP-FPTW accommodates unforeseen events like task modifications or vehicle breakdowns, ensuring adherence to task demand, vehicle capacities, and autonomies. The proposed model incorporates mandatory and optional tasks, including optional ones in operational vehicle routes if not compromising the vehicles' profits. Including asynchronous and distributed column generation heuristics, the proposed Multi-Agent-based architecture DIMASA for the DVRP-FPTW dynamically adapts to unforeseen events. Systematic Egalitarian social welfare optimization is used to iteratively maximize the profit of the least profitable vehicle, prioritizing fairness across the fleet in light of unforeseen events. This improves upon existing dynamic and multi-period VRP models that rely on prior knowledge of demand changes. Our approach allows vehicle agents to maintain privacy while sharing minimal local data with a fleet coordinator agent. We propose publicly available benchmark instances for both static and dynamic VRP-FPTW. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our DVRP-FPTW model and our multi-agent system solution approach in coordinating large, dynamically evolving cooperative autonomous fleets fairly and efficiently in close to real-time. • DVRP-FPTW: New dynamic routing problem with fair profits and time windows. • Fair profits in agri-coops: Dynamic and distributed route optimization for equity. • Egalitarian optimization for fairness and efficiency amid unforeseen events. • Adaptive and distributed DIMASA architecture copes with disruptions in real-time. • Scalable, computationally efficient DIMASA architecture protects vehicle privacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we address decentralized control problems in the context of sustainable management of discrete-time deterministic dynamical systems. We consider N players, each with their own controlled dynamical system, which are linked through the dynamics of a global variable. We consider sustainable constraints as constraints in the state space. From this general problem defined in both viability theory and game theory, we define N viability sub-problems. For each of these, we consider the guaranteed viability kernel, subset of the constraint set where it is possible to maintain the subsystem whatever the strategy of other players. When these kernels are not empty, we propose a general algorithm to compute individual strategies that ensure the sustainability of all. Numerical experiments on a model of agricultural cooperative show the feasibility of our approach and suggest that it can be the basis for the definition of new operating rules when the sustainability constraints cannot be ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper designs a time window-based initial solution scheme to improve the quality of the initial population. • We introduce a tabu search strategy to balance the global and local search performance of the algorithm. • We adopted a fitness evaluation mechanism to provide operational plans for cross-regional agricultural machinery operations. • The paper discusses the effects of different numbers of farmlands, machinery, and operation time window lengths on the model. This article aims to solve the problems of high cost, low efficiency, and task delay caused by the lack of scientific scheduling strategies during the agricultural harvest season. Considering the constraints of operation time windows, a multimachine multiobjective cross-regional collaborative operation scheduling model is constructed with the goal of minimizing the transfer distance of agricultural machinery and nonoperational scheduling costs. A multiobjective genetic algorithm (HTSMOGA) based on a hybrid time window priority rule and a tabu search strategy is designed. The initial population is generated by utilizing time window priority rules, genes with earlier operation start times are preferentially retained, and a mixed search strategy is introduced to avoid local optimal solutions. Experiments were conducted among 24 farms in a region of Hebei Province, and the results showed that, compared with other algorithms, the HTSMOGA achieved an average reduction of 17.18 % in the transfer distance of agricultural machine operations and 19.36 % in the nonoperational waiting time. Therefore, this study provides a rational and feasible solution for the cross-regional operation scheduling of agricultural machinery cooperatives and provides theoretical support for ensuring the timely completion of harvesting tasks and the cost savings and efficiency of agricultural machinery operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The countries along the "Belt and Road" are important cooperation regions for China's agricultural trade. The examination of agricultural trade competitiveness and its influencing elements between China and nations along the "Belt and Road" serves as a guide for China's international agricultural cooperation with these countries. The competitiveness of agricultural goods trade between China and nations along the "Belt and Road" was estimated using the MS index, RSCA index, CA index, and TC index from 2001 to 2019, and the variables influencing agricultural trade competitiveness were experimentally studied. The findings reveal considerable disparities in agricultural product trade competitiveness between China and the areas and countries along the route. Central and Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe are competitive, but China, Central Asia, Mongolia, Russia, and West Asia and the Middle East are weak. Twelve countires, including Thailand and Myanmar, are competitive, while China, Russia, and Kazakhstan are weak. Due to the presence of more common land in China and countries along the route, the scale of the agricultural economy, farm households' agricultural input, labor productivity, land productivity, and trade openness have a positive and significant impact on trade competitiveness, but the conditions of land resources and government agricultural input have a negative and significant impact. The lack of integration of resources and financial resources into competitiveness has resulted from a mismatch of resources and government agriculture investment. The main focus of policy should be on strengthening economic and trade exchanges with regions that have high agricultural trade competitiveness, actively pursuing international agricultural production capacity cooperation, and promoting multilateral and regional trade and investment preferential systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of Agriculture 4.0, agricultural cooperatives are struggling to understand the challenges and threats the digital platforms of large agribusiness corporations represent for the competitiveness of cooperative systems. An opportunity in this context is for agricultural cooperatives to enter the platform economy and collaboratively develop their digital platform. This study aims to analyze the process of creating a digital platform through the collaboration of agribusiness cooperatives. The action research method, which involved four interconnected cycles, was followed. The first cycle aimed to generate strategic alignment among thirty cooperatives to promote digital innovation. The second cycle referred to conceptualizing and establishing the project's governance structure and developing three minimum viable products. The third cycle involved the construction of the digital platform. The fourth and final cycle focused on instantiating the platform through diffusion and utilization by the cooperatives. A digital platform was developed, considering the potential for building relationships and adopting cooperative concepts. The platform gives participants access to a digital business ecosystem and direct access to the community of users, the infrastructure and the data. This means the cooperatives can manage them without subordination to large multinational companies that may threaten their long-term survival. The study contributes to theory by proposing a systematic method to create digital platforms following a cooperative approach. It also contributes to the managerial practice by revealing the steps and challenges managers may face when implementing digital platforms in the context of cooperatives. The platform attracted over 13,000 active users in three years and represented more than 1,700,000 ha of land for food production in Brazil. • Agriculture 4.0 requires agricultural cooperatives to enter the platform economy and develop their digital platform. • This study analyzes the process of creating a digital platform through the collaboration of agribusiness cooperatives. • The action research method, which involved four interconnected cycles, was followed. • A digital platform was developed, considering the potential for building relationships and adopting cooperative concepts. • The study proposes a systematic method to create digital platforms following a cooperative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of weaving pattern design has spread to almost all regions in Thailand since prehistoric. The ethnic pattern design may vary based on ideology, beliefs, and traditions of people in each region. Until this day, the original weaving pattern may change by the adaptation of local textile designer and the Cross-cultural environment. Thus, the study of Thai weaving pattern design is necessary for reserving Thai ethnic wisdom of textile design. This work aims to develop the data dashboard by collecting Thai weaving pattern images from Google based on the information from the Royal Thai Silk Conservation Village Project, the Office of Sericulture Conservation and Standard Conformity Assessment, the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Our image gallery of Thai weaving patterns consists of 28 patterns from 4 regions: 1) The weaving patterns of northern Thailand include Jok Mae Jam, Jok Maueng Long, Yok Mook Lab Lae, Yok Dok Lamphun silk, and Sin Maueng Nan; 2) The weaving patterns of northeastern Thailand include Hol, Hang Kra Rok, Amprom, La Buek, Sin Tiew, Saked silk, Kaab Bua, Mud Mee Chonnabot silk, Luk Kaew patterned ebony-dyed silk, Mud Mee Teen Dang, Mud Mee Kaew Mookda silk, Mud Mee Kor Naree silk, Praewa silk, Mud Mee Soi Dok Mak silk, Samor, Anloonseem, and Kid; 3) The weaving patterns of central Thailand include Thai-Yuan Yok Mook and Thai-Yuan Jok; The weaving patterns of southern Thailand include Chuan Tani, Pum Riang silk, Yok Maueng Nakhon, and Na Muen Si. Our system can show the useful information of Thai weaving pattern such as the location on the map, the philosopher who gave the detail of weaving pattern, the weaving pattern design, and the textile techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban brownfield remediation and reclamation have attracted much attention, but rural spaces do not receive the same focus and suffer from the effects these sites have on society, the economy, and land. The objective of this study is to evaluate how social, economic, and environmental features affect agricultural brownfield regeneration between 2004 and 2018 through two case study regions in the southern Czech Republic. In 1221 muncipalties where a communist agricultural cooperative or a state farm operated in 1989, agricultural brownfields existed in 832 of the municipalities in 2004. A multinomial non-parametric regression method and CCA ordination revealed ties between agricultural brownfield reclamation and the characteristics of those municipalities. This shows a deep and before unknown consequence of agricultural brownfield regeneration. There was not a relationship between the size of an agricultural premise and its probability of being an agricultural brownfield. Larger agricultural brownfields are more likely to be (at least partially) regenerated. Lower agrcultural land costs drove the higher probability that a brownfield was reused between 2004 and 2018. Housing reuses more frequently occur in areas with low agricultural land costs. Similarly, agricultural reuses of those derelict premises is more likely in areas with a low price of agricultural land. However, larger municipalities did not experience a reclamation of their agricultural brownfields, and long-term brownfields may occur alongside any other type of reclaimed land. • The probability of an agricultural brownfield occurring is not correlated with premise size. • Larger agricultural brownfields are more likely to be regenerated. • Housing reuses are found in areas with low prices of agricultural land. • Reusing an agricultural brownfield for agriculture again is more likely in areas with low land costs. • Long-term brownfields can occur alongside any other type of reclaimed premises or land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peru is the world's leading exporter of organic coffee. Peruvian organic coffee is largely marketed through farmers' cooperatives which have helped small farmers transition to organic production, earn price premiums over conventional coffee, and access extension services and finance. However, rising temperatures, increasingly volatile rainfall patterns, and the proliferation of pests and diseases make organic production riskier, as organic farmers cannot rely on agrochemicals to protect their farms against production shocks. If members of organic coffee cooperatives respond to production shocks by increasing their sales to private buyers ('side-selling'), then cooperatives' financial health could be threatened through reduced bargaining power with buyers and a decrease in scale economies. This paper explores the theoretical incentives for members to side-sell in response to production shocks and gives empirical evidence of how production shocks influence side-selling using panel data from members of two Peruvian specialty coffee cooperatives in 2013 and 2015. The study period coincides with a widespread production shock – the Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) epidemic of 2012/13 – that decimated coffee production in Peru. We find suggestive evidence that the incidence of CLR on farms is correlated with increased side-selling. Particularly, members with high risk tolerance and high levels of non-coffee income increase side-selling when affected by production shocks. This paper contributes to a growing literature on the determinants of side-selling in agricultural cooperatives by examining the role of production shocks, extending existing theoretical frameworks, and analyzing determinants using panel data methods. • Production shocks may increase organic coffee cooperative members' side-selling. • Coffee leaf rust (CLR) decimated Peruvian coffee production in 2012 and 2013. • Farmers have heterogeneous marketing responses to production shocks. • Farmers with higher non-coffee income side-sold more coffee when facing CLR. • Relatively risk-taking members increased side-selling during the CLR epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-based carbon farming has been identified in previous research as a win-win for farm productivity and the mitigation of climate change through carbon sequestration. However, it faces numerous barriers to adoption, including low carbon prices, high transaction costs, information barriers and high uncertainty around future outcomes, markets and policy conditions. Collaboration between landholders and other stakeholders has been proposed as a potential means of overcoming some of these barriers, while maximising the benefits of soil-based carbon farming. In this article, we present the results of a two-stage process investigating collaborative soil-based carbon farming in Australia, involving national-scale key informant interviews and a regional-scale Participatory Rural Appraisal. Fifty-three interviews were undertaken with key carbon farming stakeholders, including landholders, landholder groups, carbon service providers, government, researchers and the financial sector. Collaboration was seen to offer the greatest advantages in relation to knowledge-sharing and social support, followed by its potential to increase carbon income through enhanced bargaining power and the optimisation of co-benefits. The advantages of collaboration were less clear in relation to reducing costs or maximising farm productivity and collaboration also presents new challenges around risk and complexity. Under current conditions, informal collaboration models were seen to offer the best balance between the benefits and risks, with existing cooperatives also well-placed to diversify into carbon. Alternative conditions in the future or in other locations would be needed to facilitate models involving joint projects, pooled credits, shared land management and/or the creation of new carbon-specific cooperatives. • Soil-based carbon farming benefits both carbon sequestration and farm productivity. • Advantages of collaboration are greatest for knowledge-sharing and social support. • Collaboration less beneficial in relation to cost-reduction and farm productivity. • Informal models for collaboration preferred by study participants. • Existing agricultural cooperatives are well-placed to diversify into carbon farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural carbon emission reduction is an effective approach to achieve the dual carbon goals. Farmer cooperatives have widely been viewed as an important agricultural organization to enhance production scale and technological capabilities. This study aims to explore how farmer cooperatives influence agricultural carbon emissions, contributing to the achievement of dual carbon goals. Using Chinese county-level panel data during the period between 2013 and 2017, this study employs ordinary least-squares to examine the impact of farmer cooperatives, particularly regulated cooperatives, on agricultural carbon emissions. The results show that farmer cooperatives, particularly regulated cooperatives have significantly negative influence on agricultural carbon emissions and the effects are heterogeneous across the level of agricultural carbon emissions and the agricultural economy. Specifically, the farmer cooperatives effect tends to be bigger for regions with high-level agricultural carbon emissions and primary industry of high-level value-added. Additionally, mechanism analysis reveals that farmer cooperatives contribute to emission reduction by decreasing fertilizer input. These findings are crucial for promoting the development of farmer cooperatives, especially regulated ones, in achieving carbon peak and neutrality goals. This study fills a research gap in the role of agricultural cooperatives in carbon mitigation and offers a novel perspective for cooperative development and agriculture-based carbon mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eradication of illicit drug crops in developing countries through international agricultural cooperation in alternative livelihoods is a new mode of clean production. This paper examines the market-oriented alternative livelihood (AL) model implemented by Chinese agricultural companies in Laos, focusing on land-based cooperation between these companies, local authorities, and communities. It aims to reveal the conditions for successful land-based cooperation and mutual trust building with local communities and government agencies. Three Chinese companies involved in alternative cultivation projects in Laos are selected as case studies. The findings highlight the market-oriented AL model as a beneficial approach to transition from illicit crop cultivation to clean production. The study emphasizes the importance of land-based cooperation and trust building for the sustainable operation of market-oriented alternative livelihoods. Challenges faced by the companies include managing international market risks and developing locally-led technical and management teams. The research underscores the need for inclusive innovation in land-based cooperation and alternative livelihoods in the Global South. It calls for further exploration of innovative approaches to inclusive cooperation, local empowerment, and capacity building. The study contributes to understanding the potential of international agricultural cooperation in promoting alternative livelihoods and sustainable development in illicit crop-growing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary Bosnia and Herzegovina, rural poverty is an unresolved issue, despite farming having been a poverty coping strategy for many rural dwellers, especially after the end of the Balkan war. Eradicating poverty is among the priorities of the national government that aims at EU candidacy and accession. Being the most dynamic among agricultural sectors, berry farming is a key agricultural activity at the national level and had been the subject of rural development interventions, including the establishment of agricultural cooperatives. This article provides evidence from the largest agricultural cooperative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to inform decision making and policy planning. The article aims at describing and analyzing the status and dynamics of poverty at the farm household level while highlighting their contributing factors, as well as at proposing possible development strategies based on the voice of local actors. Given the complexity and multifaceted features of the investigated issues, the methodological approach of this study relies on a mixed-methods research design, where the quantitative findings from the analysis of poverty status and dynamics and their contributing factors are complemented by qualitative findings from participatory activities. The results of the study pinpoint the successful contribution of the cooperative to the improvement of farmers' working conditions and market access and suggest that supporting collective action among berry farmers can be an effective rural development intervention to alleviate rural poverty and prevent poverty fallouts. To date, structural characteristics of farm holdings and households and climate and market-related conditions have significantly contributed to the farmers' poverty as well as to farmers' exposure to poverty. Furthermore, bridging the gender gap is still a challenge in Bosnia and Herzegovina which should be addressed urgently to mitigate the problem of social exclusion and to promote bottom-up innovation. • Reducing rural poverty is a key development target in Bosnia and Herzegovina. • Diffusing berry farming is an emerging strategy for increasing farmer incomes. • Input procurement, extension, marketing by cooperatives empower farmers. • Gender gap is wide and needs targeted interventions by cooperatives and policy. • Land tenure, land use policy and public incentive system needs reorganization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study identifies determinants of safety climate at agricultural cooperatives. Methods: An extensive survey was designed to build upon past research done in collaboration with DuPont (Risch et al., 2014). In 2014 and 2015, the survey was administered to 1930 employees at 14 different agricultural cooperatives with 154 locations. Injury incidence data were also collected from each location to better understand the overall health and safety environment in this sector. An ordered probit model is used to identify variables that are associated with better safety climates. Results: Safety system components such as discipline programs, inspection programs, modified duty programs, off-the-job safety training programs, and recognition programs are positively related to individual safety climate for both managerial employees and nonmanagerial employees. Variables representing an employee's agricultural background, distance between their workplace and childhood home, and formal education are not associated with managerial safety climate. However, agricultural background and childhood home distance are associated with nonmanagerial safety climate. Conclusions: Improving occupational health and safety is a priority for many agricultural cooperatives. Lower safety climate emerges as nonmanagerial employees have more experience with production agriculture and work nearer to their home community. Practical applications: Employees of agricultural cooperatives face a host of health and safety challenges that are likely to persist into the future. The safety system components associated with safety climate indicate that continuous feedback is important for improving occupational health and safety. Occupational health and safety programming should also acknowledge that many employees have experiences that influence their attitudes and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural cooperatives (ACs) are major players in European farming, where they account for 40–60% of agricultural trade, and are key actors in articulating rural realities. This paper offers a solidary critique of ACs beyond the dominant institutional economics lens, and aims to resume the debate on their de/repoliticisation. Evidence presented points towards a continuous process of co-optation of ACs by the dominant food regime as well as decreased adherence to cooperative principles, revealing theoretical parallelisms with the organic and fair trade movements. While acknowledging the important role ACs play in supporting farmers, many of who interviewed for this research reported they could not survive without them, this paper warns of the loss of their historical political roots, and introduces a new theoretical framework for a more integrated study of ACs in the context of wider food system forces. The framework is composed of three conceptual components: first, the coooperative triangle illustrates interwoven cooperative identitary dimensions; second, the cooperative hourglass depicts ongoing tensions between the cooperative economic and governance model, and the market economy they exist in; and third, the concept of cooperative sustainability brings together the previous two components to analyse ACs' ability and capacity to maintain the dimensions indicated in the cooperative triangle while also fostering environmental sustainability through their practices. • An integrated framework for the study of agricultural cooperatives is proposed. • Certain dimensions of agricultural cooperatives have become disjointed and co-opted. • The pressure farmers' cooperatives used to exert outwards has turned to members. • The cooperative triangle and cooperative double hourglass are presented. • Farming cooperatives must overcome epistemological biases and quantophrenic trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open-field burning, a widely used treatment and disposal method for rice straw, poses severe health and environmental problems due to the release of toxic gases and loss of significant soil nutrients. Hence, alternative techniques must be explored. In this study, the use of rice straw as feedstock for a downdraft small-scale furnace to produce heated air for paddy drying was investigated. A two-level factorial experiment was initially implemented using differently conditioned rice straw types, rice straw feed rates, and drying airflow rates. Optimization results using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) showed there is no significant difference in the drying air efficiency using either loose or baled straw. The optimum conditions found were at a rice straw feed rate of 20.67 kg h−1 and drying airflow rate of 3.03 m3 s−1, resulting in a drying air efficiency of 86.1%, and an increase in drying air temperature of 18.41 °C which was sufficient for paddy drying applications. At the optimum conditions, the average CO and NOx concentrations measured inside the dryer simulator were 76.57 and 2.93 ppm, respectively. The results of this research can be used for pilot studies in actual agricultural cooperatives, as well as provide inputs to life cycle analysis. • The downdraft rice husk furnace was adapted for rice straw. • Characterization of rice straw showed it has a comparable heating value with rice husk. • Rice straw type (loose or baled) had no significant effect on drying air efficiency. • The optimum conditions of rice straw feed rate and drying air flow rate resulted in 86.1% drying air efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to determine whether the websites belonging to agri-food cooperatives facilitate effective communication in an online environment and are adapted to e-commerce. To this end, a model is proposed for analysing these websites based on the content analysis method, and structured according to the following dimensions: Information, Communication, E-Commerce and Additional Functions. In addition, eMICA methodology (extended Model of Internet Commerce Adoption) is applied to study the degree of maturity of this type of organization. The two methods are ultimately integrated with a principal component analysis (PCA). The model was applied to 104 cooperatives with an online presence. The results indicate that although oil cooperatives are better prepared than their wine and fruit counterparts, all of these companies still have a long way to go when it comes to facilitating effective communication and interaction with their target public. The theoretical contribution of the article, its implications for management, the limitations of the study and future lines of research are also presented. • A model for the analysis of rural cooperatives website development and maturity is proposed. • The proposed model combines and integrates WCA and eMICA. • The case study analyses the websites of all the agricultural cooperatives with an online presence in Catalonia. • The results show that greater website maturity entails greater development of content. • Recommendations are provided for a more efficient management of rural cooperatives websites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the histories of oil palm in Nicaragua during the 20th century within a drastically changing Political Economy. In Nicaragua, palm oil cultivation dates back to the 1950s, when the United Fruit Company started to plant oil palm on the Atlantic Coast. In the 1980s, due to the agrarian reform of the Sandinista revolution, political conditions and economic strategies changed completely. In this era, a socialist government started to create agricultural cooperatives for oil palm. After the defeat of the revolution, during the neoliberal era of the 1990s, palm oil cultivation expanded in different surges. This expansion was tied to funding from international organizations, especially during the conjuncture of the bioenergy framework, which implied a new narrative of sustainability from the global level. The extent of the territory on which oil palm is cultivated more than quadrupled between 2005 and 2010, and again more than doubled between 2010 and 2016, although the Sandinista government was back in power and not particularly supportive of oil palm. The article argues that although the drivers, the main actors, their specific arguments, funding sources, and policies promoting oil palm have varied over time, the narrative of 'already degraded land' has consistently been used. Social contestations from below point not only to environmental and social consequences, but to the funding schemes and narratives of international institutions sponsoring and promoting oil palm. • The key drivers of oil palm cultivation vary considerably throughout Nicaragua's history. • Although actors, funding sources and policies have been changing, the narrative of already degraded land remains widely used. • Funding from development cooperation schemes was key for the expansion of oil palm. • The bioenergy framework stimulated recurring proposals to transform two million hectares into oil palm plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the global South, agricultural cooperatives are increasingly promoted as part of participatory rural development strategies and means for the enhancement of women's economic and social empowerment. But in cooperative decision making and the acquisition of leadership positions women are often marginalized. It has been argued that women-only groups may help to counter this problem. They may increase women's active participation and, thereby, increase the benefits of cooperative membership. This paper reviews relevant literature and studies the effect of gender homogeneity on women's active participation. We apply a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to a sample of ten Indian village-level dairy cooperatives. The results from our comparative case study confirm that gender homogeneity is not a sufficient means to ensure active participation. It is only in combination with other factors, that women-only groups can enhance women's participation. Our paper identifies and discusses combinations of such factors and draws conclusions for development programs and further research. • Qualitative Comparative Analysis to study women's active participation. • Women face structural barriers in cooperative formation and management. • Gender homogeneity contributes to women's active participation. • Caste homogeneity or the absence of elite control facilitate active participation in women-only cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being one of the significant conduits linking international and domestic markets, agricultural trade is an area of study that commands attention. While it may bring about transnational carbon emission transfers, it begs the question: does it promote carbon reduction in a country's agricultural sector? Such an inquiry holds profound implications for optimizing agricultural trade and promoting low-carbon agricultural advancement. Utilizing two-way fixed effect model, mediating effect model and dual-fixed spatial Durbin model, this paper examines the impact effects, mechanisms and spatial characteristics of agricultural trade openness (ATO) on agricultural carbon reduction using panel data from Chinese provinces spanning 2000 to 2021. The main findings include: (1) ATO markedly and positively influences the reduction of agricultural carbon emissions (ACE), this conclusion maintains its validity under endogeneity treatment and robustness tests. (2) ATO contributes to reducing ACE through three intermediary channels: scale effect, technological effect, and structural effect. (3) From a spatial perspective, a notable positive spatial spillover effect is observed from agricultural trade openness to agricultural carbon reduction, with the spatial carbon reduction effect being more apparent. (4) The spatial carbon reduction effect of agricultural trade liberalization exhibits heterogeneity across different natural geographical locations and levels of ATO. The study confirms the vital role of ATO in promoting agricultural carbon reduction in typical countries, underscoring the urgency and importance of bolstering cross-border agricultural trade cooperation and domestic agricultural product circulation in the domain of climate change. • The impact of agricultural trade openness (ATO) on agricultural carbon reduction is investigated in China. • The scale, technological, and structural effect of ATO serve as intermediary channels in reducing carbon emissions. • ATO engenders positive spatial spillover effects on agricultural carbon reduction. • Bolstering cross-border agricultural trade cooperation are of importance and urgency in the domain of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The presence of the New Agricultural Operating Entity (NAOE) in villages could help deter farmers from abandoning their farmland. • The effect is achieved by promoting land leasing, providing technical guidance, and facilitating the sale of agricultural products. • The effects of NAOE on farmland abandonment vary significantly across regions, villages, and households. • NAOE benefits more from China's central and western regions, mountainous areas, villages with better land tenure security, and households with poorer human resource endowments. It is crucial to address farmland abandonment to achieve Zero Hunger according to the United Nations' sustainable development goals. However, quantitative research on this topic is relatively lacking. Based on a large sample of panel data from the Chinese Family Database, this study applies a panel Tobit model to examine the relationship between new agricultural operating entities (NAOEs) and farmland abandonment. The results show that NAOEs—professional operators, family farms, and agricultural cooperatives—are negatively and significantly associated with the ratio of abandoned farmland areas. This effect is achieved through channels such as promoting land leasing, providing technical guidance, and facilitating the sale of agricultural products. Additionally, NAOEs benefit more from China's central and western regions, mountainous areas, villages with better land tenure security, and households with poorer human resource endowments. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to ensure food security and promote sustainable development by cultivating various large-scale farming entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural cooperatives competitive context is being defined by sustainable development paradigm, which are forcing them to assess their performance considering sustainability requirements. There are few empirical studies that provide data to assess sustainable performance of agricultural cooperatives' operations. This study contributes to the theory of sustainable operations by providing a model for sustainability performance assessment that is applied to agricultural cooperatives. The objective of the research is to assess the adherence of a set sustainability performance indicators to form an assessment model to agricultural cooperatives' operations, which is named 'Sustainability Assessment for Agriculture Cooperatives – SAAC'. Empirical data is collected from five case studies, whose analysis reveals the level of adherence of the studied organizations to SAAC criteria. The assessment process proved to be feasible, useful, and easy to comprehend and use. SAAC model could be extended to create the foundation of a sustainability management system for agricultural cooperatives, helping them to effectively contribute to a sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than a decade ago, the Chinese government created several agricultural programs with the objective to promote food security and to foster environmental sustainability via the adoption of more eco-conscious practices in agriculture. While the overall application rate of chemical fertilizer has significantly declined, the adoption of low-carbon technologies promoted through these initiatives remains relative low—partly due to the lack of a wide-reaching systems to implement the recommended practices and farmers' lack of awareness and knowledge about the technologies. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of technical training on low-carbon management practices, specifically on the adoption of soil testing and formulated fertilization technologies. We hypothesize that technical training and education facilitates the adoption of promoted technologies. Data for this research come from a random sample of 1115 rice farmers in Hubei, China. Using a logistic regression, we empirically examine the effect of having received formal technical training within the last 12 months on the likelihood of adopting low-carbon technologies. To account for potential heterogeneity and selection bias, we employ counterfactual framework and propensity score matching and estimate the average treatment effect for those who have received formal technical training. Our results revealed a positive and significant association between formal technical training and rice farmers' adoption of low-carbon technologies, with an average treatment effect of 0.2078. Males, younger farmers, and members of agricultural cooperatives were more likely to adopt soil testing and formulated fertilization technologies. Further, a gender analysis, conducted only with those who indicated having received technical training on low-carbon technologies, showed that trained females were more prone to adopt these technologies than trained males. Our findings provide and discuss meaningful implications for the development of future efforts to promote the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies in China. • Technical training increases the likelihood of adopting agricultural technologies. • Being a member of an agricultural cooperative increases the chances of adoption. • Younger rice producers are more likely to adopt the evaluated technologies. • Among trained growers, female farmers are more prone to adopt low-carbon technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are living in an era of the audit. Sustainability indicators are used to ensure that industries are behaving responsibly. The audits are well elaborated in their environmental requirements, but they are often less directly engaged with issues of social sustainability. Should they be? After describing a number of challenges with measuring social sustainability, this paper defends representing social sustainability through indicators by taking a performative orientation toward them. Here, we suggest holding a relationally real analytical stance about what contributes to more equitable and diverse assembling processes. In iteratively doing so, we can work to determine indicators that are less focused upon the practices they are meant to represent, and more on their potential impact on intended audiences. In other words, this takes up the suggestion that indicators are themselves agents and then takes this a couple of steps further by arguing for the potential work social scientists can do using indicators to move toward better futures. We ground this theorizing in two short vignettes taken from the authors' work in food and agriculture cooperatives and also in a fruit industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Making fast decisions with broad membership participation is a challenge for cooperatives. • Cooperatives must adapt management processes to compete in the market. • The management of cooperatives is not prepared to compete with oligopolized markets. • Low participation of cooperative members in management and decision making. • Opportunistic behavior of the members / cooperative, causing cantrip to cooperatives. This research aims to identify the main problems encountered in the management of agricultural cooperatives in Rio Grande do Sul and factors that may interfere in their success. It has three specific objectives. First, it seeks to identify how members participate in these agricultural cooperatives' decisions. Second, with the goal of helping cooperatives to develop solutions, it verifies the types of difficulties encountered in the current configuration of markets that cooperatives are placed in. Third, it identifies actions to minimize the managerial problems of agricultural cooperatives. This work is based on a multicase study on 10 agricultural cooperatives in the state, whose managers were interviewed in a semi-structured way in 2016. The results showed that the main problems encountered in the management of these organizations are as follows. a) Cooperatives compete with other companies in the sector, and they must be competitive while being faithful to the cooperative principles. b) The team responsible for the cooperatives' management finds it difficult to compete in oligopolized markets. c) Cooperative members' participation in management is low. d) Cooperatives' associates and members exhibit opportunistic behaviors. Three categories of current problems were verified in the management of agricultural cooperatives: 1) political and institutional, 2) behavioral, and 3) technical-administrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Farmers' cooperation is viable in an autonomous decision making setting. • Top-down regulation can crowd out voluntary cooperation. • Historic practices do not determine individuals' cooperation decision today. • Panacea approaches to local water users' cooperation are unlikely to succeed. Abstract This study contributes to the understanding of long- and short-term determinants of cooperation among water users. We experimentally investigate the potential of water users' self-governance in enhancing their contributions to a common pool as opposed to external regulation. Our focus is on the irrigated areas of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Due to their Soviet past, these countries have a reputation for low bottom-up cooperation potential. Based on the different pre-Soviet irrigation traditions of the two study sites, we assess the effectiveness of short-term incentives compared to long term cultural factors of cooperation. History might matter, but we find it does not predetermine the success of current water decentralization in ancient as compared to relatively recently established irrigation sites. Our study reveals that external regulation, in fact, decreases farmers' cooperation, whereas face-to-face communication increases it. This finding calls into question the top-down approach prevalent in current water policies of the region. Moreover, it suggests the viability of endogenous cooperation and hence encourages the implementation of truly self-governed water management policies in Central Asia. However, the substantial heterogeneity in individual contributions apparent at the village level also signals a warning that one-size-fits-all approaches to local cooperation are unlikely to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The important role of institutional support actors in building the networking capacities of rural economic actors and communities has been noted. Over the last two decades, rural and agri-food network models of institutional support have undergone substantive change. Trust is a vital feature of such programmes, however the nature of trust, and how it is manifest, in rural support programmes is underexplored. A longitudinal qualitative methodology is adopted, involving semi-structured interviews and group discussions with artisanal food producers and institutional actors in four cases of business support. Drawing upon cases demonstrating varying levels of trust, the paper examines how trust is formed, and lost, across forms of institutional support programmes and the underlying factors that moderate trust formation. The analysis provides insights into the conflicting narratives around trust formation from advisor-client perspectives. The paper contributes to theory development by offering a conceptualisation of trust building approaches in advisor-client relationships in rural support programmes. Highlights • Knowledge capabilities, local embeddedness, and empathy are key components of trustworthiness in rural support networks. • Interpersonal relationships rather than institutional goals foster trustworthiness. • Consistency, communication and integrity can explain differences in trust relations. • Sectoral-cultural issues can be used by advisors to explain deficiencies in support programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) faces substantial challenges in increasingly saturated and competitive markets in which competitors highlight their localness. Retention of members is crucial for the model to provide benefits to farmers; otherwise, excessive losses of members requires considerable recruitment efforts and undercuts farmer well-being. We conducted statewide research on CSAs in California, including surveys of 409 former members, 1149 current members, and 111 CSA farmers, to examine former members' reasons for leaving. We answer three questions: How do former and current members differ in their satisfaction with CSA? Why do former members leave their CSAs? And, does share customization increase retention rates? Examining the datasets together shows what we call the CSA customization paradox : while it appears that former members' primary reasons for leaving could be addressed by offering them share customization, the farm-level data shows that offering share customization has no effect on CSAs' retention rates. The discussion offers three hypotheses to further examine the CSA customization paradox, and argues for a deeper theorization of CSA people to understand the limitations of share customization as a strategy for member retention. We conclude with specific routes that CSAs can take, individually and collectively, to retain members and cultivate CSA people. Highlights • Former CSA members say the share not meeting their needs is a top reason for leaving. • However, CSA share customization has no effect on CSAs' retention rates. • Together these findings are the customization paradox , to be investigated further. • "CSA people" are those willing and able to subject themselves to CSA's requirements. • CSA people can be cultivated, but structural processes are eroding the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Cooperatives are seen as important vehicles for mobilization of local resources. • Agricultural social entrepreneurs need both institutional and community support during the process of social entrepreneurship development. • Social enterprises goal of achieving sustainable development and social missions. • Wine cooperatives are good examples of profit-driven businesses working for society/community development. Abstract Cooperatives are considered potential organizational vehicles for society's development due to their multiple objectives and diverse roles. Therefore, this study aims to understand which factors associated with agricultural cooperatives can impact on society. The research adopted a quantitative methodology with the data-collecting instrument being a questionnaire applied to 194 cooperators belonging to wine cooperatives in the Dão region of Portugal. The results indicate that agricultural cooperatives have multiple impacts on their members and are considered an organizational format able to promote society's development. The empirical study also reveals two factors/dimensions that confirm the social importance of wine cooperatives in society: (1) reaction and (2) cooperation. Despite the difficulties in improving their competitiveness, cooperatives are seen as important vehicles for mobilization of local resources into a critical mass and their cooperators can achieve significant economic and social benefits from participation. In this sense, social entrepreneurship plays a vital role in the process of society/community development as well as making a significant contribution to cooperators. Implications for theory and practice are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of regional coordinated development, exploring the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of agricultural eco-efficiency(AEE) in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River(MRYR) can provide decision support for the coordinated development of regional agriculture. This study proposes a theoretical hypothesis of AEE spatial convergence at the input-output level and uses the Super-SBM model, kernel density estimation, spatial autocorrelation and β-convergence model to calculate the spatiotemporal evolution and convergence characteristics of AEE in the MRYR from 2005 to 2020. The results show that (1) from 2005 to 2020, the AEE of the study area increased from 0.665 to 0.864, with the average efficiency of Hubei, Jiangxi, and Hunan reaching 0.794, 0.767, and 0.724, respectively; and (2)the overall spatial convergence rate of AEE is 0.045, and there is a phenomenon of "club convergence" between regions. The spatial convergence rates of Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hunan are 0.053, 0.063, and 0.048, respectively. The convergence rate slows down over time, (3) The farmers' living standards, per capita GDP, and technological level have promoted the improvement of AEE. Multiple planting indices and financial support for agriculture have not had a positive effect on the improvement of AEE. The region should strengthen the exchange and cooperation of agricultural production and pay attention to the pollution discharge problem of agricultural production. • This paper proposes a theoretical hypothesis of the spatial convergence of agricultural eco-efficiency (AEE). • From 2005 to 2020, the AEE in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River increased from 0.665 to 0.864. • The AEE convergence rates of Jiangxi, Hubei and Hunan were all higher than the overall region. • Farmers' living standards, per capita GDP and science and technology level have a positive effect on the improvement of AEE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to explore how agricultural co-operatives achieve sustainability in an uncertain environment. To do this, an in-depth ethnographical case study was carried out, including interviews with co-operative managers, members and stakeholders of four pig production co-operatives in China; observations during field visits; and collection of archival data. We found that a co-operative's resilience and dynamic capabilities individually are necessary for co-operative sustainability. They jointly represent sufficient and necessary conditions for co-operative sustainability and determine three types of co-operatives: “Star”, “Question Mark” and “Dog”. This research contributes to sustainability research by extending it to a special form of organization, i.e., agricultural co-operatives, which are different from investor-owned firms, operationalizing co-operative resilience, dynamic capabilities and sustainability and proposing causal relationships between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of corporate reputation is rarely applied to cooperative companies. This paper analyzes the implications of a good reputation in their performance. Specifically, it focuses on olive oil cooperatives in Spain, where the need for differentiation makes them key subjects of study. The structural equation method and the partial least square technique are used to empirically test a theoretical model linking cooperative reputation to performance in a twofold multidimensional way. On the one hand considering that the cooperative reputation is reflected on four variables: innovation, certification systems, social responsibility and awards. On the other hand the financial aspects of performance have been considered but also the non-financials, to take into account the specific nature of these companies. The outcomes obtained for the representative sample of the sectorof 76 cooperatives in Spain, demonstrates that reputation has been well approximated by the four variables included in the model and it is indeed directly and positively related to the cooperative performance. These findings serve for positioning reputation as a novel key performance indicator for Coopmanagers, indicator that also allows to be used at the same time in the imminent need for differentiation of this industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural cooperatives have grown exponentially in the past few decades. There is anecdotal evidence showing that vertical coordination of cooperatives with upstream and downstream supply chain bring benefits to cooperative members; however this relationship is far from clear. In particular, the common measurements for member benefits may not accurately represent cooperative practice in the literature. To fill this gap and using an ethnographic multiple case study method, 32 interviews were carried out with four dairy cooperatives in China. It is found that (1) there is a linear relationship between vertical coordination and cooperative performance; (2) Vertical coordination is associated with benefits distribution within the dairy cooperative, showing an inverted U-shaped relationship; (3) Member benefits are a function of both cooperative performance and benefits distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperatives are established to improve farmers' production conditions, to increase their bargaining power and to enable them to benefit from modern value chains. In China, farmers are members of a cooperative for multiple reasons. Little is known on whether and how cooperative membership affects farmers’ choice of marketing channels. This paper examines determinants of farmers’ choice of marketing channels, especially how cooperative membership impacts upon this choice. Our analysis is based on survey data collected in 2015 among 625 apple growing farm households in the provinces Shaanxi and Shandong. We employ endogenous switching probit models to deal with potential endogeneity of membership in estimating the determinants of marketing channel choices. We find that cooperative membership has a positive impact on selling to wholesalers and a negative impact on selling to small dealers, but no significant impact on selling to the cooperative itself. As products sold through cooperatives generally comply with relatively stringent food quality and safety standards, these results imply that policies promoting cooperative members to sell their products through cooperatives are likely to have a significant impact on food quality and food safety in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural cooperatives remain a significant component of the food and agriculture industry to help the stakeholders to provide services and have opportunities for themselves. One of the aims of an agricultural cooperative is to answer to the needs within the communities of the farmers. Agricultural cooperatives enable individual farmers to increase productivity and maximise their social welfare. Together the farmer members of an agricultural cooperative can buy input supplies cheaper and sell more of their products in larger markets at higher prices, which is not possible for an individual smallholder farmer otherwise. Some studies have shown that farmers who were members of cooperatives have gained higher revenue for their products and spent less on input. However, organising the hundreds of farmers into smaller groups to perform collective farming and marketing is crucial to strengthening their position in the food and agriculture industry. Thereby, in our work, we consider an agricultural cooperative of smallholder farmers as a multi-agent based coalitional model, where coalitions are formed based on the similarity among the smallholder farmers. In this paper, we propose a model and implement a heuristic-based algorithm to find the disjoint partition of the agents set. We evaluate the model and the algorithm based on the following criteria: (i) individual gain, (ii) runtime analysis, (iii) solution quality, and (iv) scalability. We theoretically prove that our coalitional model of an agricultural cooperative has conciseness, expressiveness and efficiency properties. Experimental results confirm that our algorithm is time efficient and scalable. We show, both empirically and theoretically, that our algorithm generates a solution within a bound of the optimal solution. We also show that our coalition model generates positive revenue for the smallholder farmers and the payoff division rule is individual rational. In addition, we generate a new dataset in the context of an agricultural cooperative to show the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed coalitional model of the cooperative. • Agent-based coalitional model of agricultural cooperative of smallholder farmers. • The novel algorithm forms coalition based on similarity of smallholder farmers. • Simulations demonstrate significant improvements in social welfare. • Presentation of how the coalition formation technique is applied to a real-world scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholders are prevalent worldwide. Agricultural cooperatives are often considered an effective instrument for bridging the gap between smallholders and modern agriculture because they enable large-scale production and ensure the quality of agricultural products. This study aims to provide quantitative evidence on the role of cooperatives in boosting macro-level agricultural economic growth using unbalanced panel data of 1866 Chinese counties between 2007 and 2019. The results show that the number of cooperatives at the county level exerts an 'inverted U-shaped' effect on agricultural economic growth, while the average membership size of cooperatives has a 'U-shaped' effect on agricultural economic growth. Cooperatives with no farmer members or capital contribution can be considered 'fake' cooperatives. However, these 'fake' cooperatives do not hamper the agricultural economy. Furthermore, capital accumulation is a critical mechanism through which agricultural cooperatives bridge the gap between smallholders and modern agriculture. On the contrary, government subsidies to agricultural cooperatives do not contribute to agricultural development. Based on the findings, this study recommends to drive out 'fake' cooperatives without farmer members or accumulated capital to promote the development of 'genuine' cooperatives. Moreover, establishing an appropriate membership size and promoting capital accumulation are also important to enhance the effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives in developing modern agriculture. • Agricultural cooperatives can effectively bridge the gap between smallholders and modern agriculture in China. • The number of cooperatives at the county level exerts an 'inverted U-shaped' effect on agricultural economic growth. • The average membership size of cooperatives has a 'U-shaped' effect on agricultural economic growth. • 'Fake cooperatives' with no farmer members or accumulated capital do not hamper the agricultural economy. • Cooperatives' capital accumulation rather than government subsidies boosts agricultural economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working with farmers' groups, associations and cooperatives constitutes a fundamental element of extension work with family farmers. Despite the fact that extension practitioners face many problems in this area of their work, there is currently a lack of academic literature that systematically addresses the topic and offers concrete guidelines for practice. Thus, this paper will aim to clarify the benefits of farmers' groups, associations and networks within the context of family farming, systematise problems faced by rural extensionists when working with farmers' groups and associations, provide conceptual tools for understanding group and associative processes, and construct a set of guidelines and recommendations for facing said problems. In order to achieve these aims, the authors conducted an extensive literature review and drew upon their personal experience on the topic. Results suggest that some of the benefits of associative work are: better access to inputs, produce and credit markets, the facilitation of learning processes, the empowerment of family farmers as social actors, and a reduction of rural extension costs. Additionally, with respects to the problems faced by extensionists, the following can be highlighted: individualist attitudes and conflicts between farmers, scarce participation and commitment, problems with leaderships and with organisations' administrative management, and the lack of extensionists' training to address these processes, among others. With regards to the factors that increase trust and cooperation are: interpersonal communication and mutual knowledge, sharing problems, values and objectives, and the existence of shared rules for the functioning of the group that include sanctions for transgressors. In this context, the extensionists' role will be that of facilitating processes of construction of group relationships, creating rules for the groups' functioning and developing the group's capacities for self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moving forwards from an extensive literature on farmers' cooperatives, this Special Issue aims to explore the interaction and interdependence of multiple material and immaterial benefits associated with cooperation. The eight papers gathered here address a range of contexts to explore the inseparability of a set of ‘more-than-economic’ benefits of cooperation and consider the wider implications of viewing cooperation in such light. Responding to their insights, this editorial reflects upon the ontological ambiguity of concepts of economy and the political potentiality of cooperative activities. In addition, we highlight three key themes raised by the papers, which emphasize the complexity of processes and values included in cooperation: Relatedness and Embeddedness; Institutions and Formalisation; Histories and Futures. Reflecting on the transformative capacities of cooperation described in this collection, we argue that valuing cooperation as a process rather than a means to fixed-ends can carry its own emancipatory potential, given the ways in which this can work to counter the compartmentalising tendencies of capitalism. However, we conclude by cautioning that the addressing of more pervasive structural impediments needs to be integrated into cooperative endeavours if such potential is to be fully realised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept ‘governing through the community’ has been used frequently to interpret the neoliberal policy embraced by Australian governments since the 1990s. Yet explanation is still inadequate of how ‘governing through the community’ is conducted in practice, particularly the specific mechanisms that regulate interaction among government agencies, groups seeking to represent the community and individuals in the community. In this study, we find that ‘governing through the community’ is actually ‘governing through representatives of the community’ because it is the representatives that make the community visible and governable. This observation is based on a case study of three kinds of farmer organizations, in two states of Australia, who see their role as serving the community and are regarded by outsiders as representatives of the community at least on certain issues. An understanding of the interaction among different stakeholders within and outside of the community is developed through three themes of ‘paperwork’, ‘data’ and ‘price’ that were used by locals from Landcare groups, grower groups and farmer cooperatives, respectively, to articulate how they experience the mechanisms through which their interactions are regulated. This paper concludes that these groups can claim to represent some residents within a defined geographical area, rather than any exact definition of ‘the community’ and that this is a sufficient claim to enable these groups to participate in the process of ‘governing through the community’. The tensions between government agencies, community representatives and community members threaten the legitimacy of the community representatives as intermediaries. Government agencies do try to contribute to reduce these tensions by strengthening the legitimacy of community representatives through various policy and project mechanisms. However, while the stated aim of ‘governing through the community’ is often focused on producing a ‘flourishing rural community’ through improving democratic modes of representation, this study demonstrates that it is only part of the community, namely the ‘targeted customers’ of the farmer organizations, that is potentially reachable to ‘the state’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many authors have proposed cooperatives as one of the preferred governance structures for realising alternative food systems, being recommended both in farming and also downstream at consumer level. However, recommendations for the cooperative model still draw dividing line between producer and consumer cooperatives. As opposed to conventional agricultural cooperatives (ACs) made up of farmer members only, the multi-stakeholder model brings together producers, consumers and/or restaurateurs under one single enterprise. This paper analyses multi-stakeholder cooperatives’ (MSCs) potential to recreate more sustainable food flows between rural and urban areas and to overcome the limitations of conventional farmer cooperatives focused more on economic than social and environmental benefits. As part of this research, historical data from cooperative archives is used to look at the history and early attempts of multi-stakeholder cooperation in food and farming. Additionally, current supporting evidence from Spain and UK, in the context of European food policy frameworks, is also presented. A four-fold proposal for open cooperatives is discussed and applied to the analysis of the case studies in the framework of global transformative networks and alliances. The introduction of different types of members seems to both complicate and enrich the cooperative mission, both theoretically and in practice. Their networks with other social movements reveal how the MSCs presented are trying to change, rather than adapt to the market economies they struggle to survive in. The findings suggest MSCs in food and farming are striving to achieve more-than-economic benefits and are moving into the arena of the open and pro-commons economy and other global social movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farmers in developing countries are often encouraged to get organized into cooperatives mainly to overcome production and marketing constraints that usually hinder the improvement of their livelihoods. However, impact evaluations regarding the contribution of cooperatives are limited; evaluation results are mixed and are not conclusive. The current study contributes to the literature by examining the determinants and economic impacts of cooperative membership using household survey data gathered from coffee farmers in the Jimma Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia. A propensity score matching (PSM) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) models are used to estimate treatment effects by controlling for selection biases. The results are augmented with qualitative data collected through group discussions made with randomly selected farmers in the study area. Findings indicate that the probability of farmers' membership decision increases with age, education level, family size, social networks, land property and accessibility to cooperatives. Both PSM and ESR models show that membership is positively associated with household income and assets. The ESR estimation results further confirm that members economically perform significantly better than if they had not been members and non-members would have even performed better than members if they had joined cooperatives. The results of group discussions also verify overall direct and spill-over effects, though cooperative services to members and non-members are undifferentiated. The results indicate a need for a mechanism to enhance the participation of poorer farm households, and to further improve member benefits as potential areas in making cooperatives more meaningful, attractive and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Global path conflict detection. • Conflict resolution strategy. • Time window generation. Path planning is one of the crucial problems of multi-machine cooperative navigation. In the context of regional farmland operation, multiple agricultural machines often need to complete multiple tasks together. Studies on global path conflict detection algorithms based on topographic maps and time windows have been conducted to solve the global path conflict problem of multiple agricultural machinery cooperation in the farmland operation environment. First, the global path conflict problem of multiple agricultural machinery cooperation was analyzed. The constraints of time window conflict detection and the time parameters to be considered in calculating the time window were proposed. Then, the global path preplanning was performed based on a topographic map and Dijkstra algorithm. According to the path preplanning results, the global path conflict was detected based on the time window. Finally, the global path conflict detection algorithm was simulated on MATLAB with the topographic map of Zhuozhou Experimental Farm as an example. The global path preplanning results show that the four paths overlapped in different degrees at nodes 1, 2, 7, 11, 15, 20, and 27. Path 3 and Path 1 were inclusive interval-type conflicts, and Path 4 and Path 1 were node-type conflicts. Path 3 adopted the change path strategy after the conflicting paths were replanned. The path was changed from [15-11-7-2-1-5-10-14-18-31] to [15-21-24-18-31]. Path 4 adopted the waiting strategy, and its paths did not change. Although the four paths still had different degrees of path overlap, there were no time conflict in the overlapping part of the replanned path. The simulation results show that the global path optimization and path conflict detection of multiple agricultural machinery cooperation could be realized based on the topographic map and time window. Moreover, the conflict resolution strategy with the least time could be obtained to achieve a safe, efficient, and conflict-free global path of multiple agricultural machinery cooperation. Thus, a foundation for further solving the path planning of multiple agricultural machinery cooperation in the complex operation environment of regional farmland is laid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Constructing a three-layer large system for irrigation water allocation. • Balancing water supply and demand between farmland, irrigation areas and regions. • Farmer income, allocation equity, engineering and regional economy coordination. • Optimal water allocations for crops, canals and large irrigation areas. • Fluctuations in water supply affect water distribution of different scales. Reasonable and optimal allocation of irrigation water is of great significance to improve agricultural water use efficiency for large-area agricultural irrigation systems. To solve the problems of large agricultural production scale, unreasonable water distribution structure, many rivers in the region and large changes in runoff volume, this paper takes the Sanjiang Plain in Heilongjiang Province, China, as the research object to develop an efficient and accurate water optimal allocation method. First, the runoff volume of many rivers in the region was obtained through the ARIMA-SVM-BP combined runoff prediction model, based on which a 'regional-irrigation district-farmland' multilayer multiobjective water resource cooperative deployment system model was established to achieve the synergistic enhancement of farmers' interests and the economic-social and regional economic-engineering volume of the irrigation district. The joint optimization method, fuzzy mathematical planning, and large system decomposition-coordination coupling were used to solve the multilayer multiobjective regulation system. The results show that the optimal agricultural water allocation volumes for the current year (2020) and the forecast year (2025) of 37 irrigation districts in the Sanjiang Plain are 3.61 × 109 m3 and 3.89 × 109 m3, saving 17% of water and resulting in a 24% decrease in the agricultural water use ratio compared with the actual situation, respectively. In the process of repeated coordination of the large system, the water distribution error is controlled within 1%. The fairness of water distribution in the multilayer system was improved by 34.7% while obtaining high economic benefits. The method proposed in this study helps the coordinated regulation and planning of multiple water sources in large agricultural irrigation areas, improves the ability of water distribution in irrigation areas to cope with different levels of incoming water, and promotes the sustainable development of regional irrigated agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive use of chemical pesticides threatens human health and food safety. The wide application of green control techniques (GCTs) is helping improve the quality and safety of agricultural products. This work examined whether agricultural cooperatives can be used as an institutional arrangement to promote the adoption of GCTs by farmers, using cross-sectional data from a survey of farmers in Shandong Province, China. An endogenous switching probit model that accounted for selection bias was employed in the analysis. The empirical results revealed that cooperative membership significantly improved the probability of farmers adopting GCTs. Access to production services, technical training, and credit services provided by cooperatives significantly increased the probability of adopting GCTs. However, marketing services had no statistically significant impact on the GCT adoption probability. These findings highlight the positive role of contemporary agricultural cooperatives in promoting green production. The government should improve the cooperative service system, strengthen the supervision of cooperative production and operation, and support more farmers to join agricultural cooperatives that practice and enforce cleaner production methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing agro-ecosystem sustainability raises difficult challenges for environmental policy: it requires both increasing knowledge on these complex systems to design effective solutions and coordinating stakeholders with diverging interests. However, most existing environmental policies consider ecosystems’ desirable properties as given, leading ecosystem managers to favor “turnkey” solutions. How could public policy better support local collective initiatives aiming at reconciling agriculture and the environment? This paper presents an empirical case study from western France, in which a partnership between an agricultural cooperative and an ecological research center resulted in a collective design initiative. We conceptually model this initiative drawing upon recent design theories and Georgescu-Roegen’s ‘fund-flow’ model, defining ‘ecological funds’ as the starting point of a collective design process. The results highlight the importance of developing policy instruments that can better support local innovation processes through greater democratization. Adopting a design approach to sustainable agricultural landscape management could be particularly fruitful in situations where collective action is necessary but where there is no common good recognized as such, and no existing community identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the political system and in public perception, the well-functioning of economy is frequently equalled to the output of the national economic system. However, during the last decades, this narrow conception of economic prosperity started to erode. This paper is based on a rural prosperity conceptual framework that takes into account the systemic nature and dynamics of interactions and impacts within rural systems through the analysis of an organic agriculture cooperative called Camposeven in the south east of Spain. The focus is on rural prosperity, differences in understanding, related parameters and strategies used by the cooperativés farming partners to success without following the traditional conventions of economic growth and farm-efficiency. Experience lessons in this paper demonstrate that the “technical-economic” approach of rural prosperity is not sufficient and results emphasize the important role of individuals’ behaviour as well as the contexts in which they are involved. The findings point to the increasing relevance of expanding both the theory and practice of rural prosperity approaches in sustainable rural development. This is important in order to enrich the connections between rural prosperity and other concepts such as social capital, innovation, social learning and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the last decades, breeding in the plant sector, husbandry and aquaculture have come under the ownership control of multinational, investor-owned firms. Breeding in these sectors is risky business, but can be extremely profitable for the involved parties. Against high odds, a few breeding cooperatives have successfully increased their competitiveness in breeding by means of collectively organized efforts, here referred to as “Participatory Innovation”. Illustrated by data from four breeding cooperatives, we explore conditions for success at intra- and inter-organizational levels. “Participatory Innovation” is a strategy to leverage individual members as co-innovators and make them benefit from a multiplier-effect. We advance the idea that “Participatory Innovation” is a distinct conceptual mode of innovation, differing from the more well-known metatheories “Vertically Integrated Innovation”, “Open Innovation” and “User Innovation”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Certification is promoted to improve rural welfare through better market access and improved agricultural practices. We compare net effects of Fairtrade- and Utz-Certified coffee production in Central Kenya, using a matched panel from 218 farm-households that belong to three cooperatives and were visited twice in 2009 and 2013. We distinguish between effects at field, farm, household, cooperative, community, and market levels. Both certification regimes improved coffee returns, but Fairtrade was more effective in coffee processing, whereas Utz contributed to productivity. Under stagnating coffee prices, Fairtrade farmers increased their coffee specialization, while Utz farmers reduced coffee areas but increased yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of cooperative membership on farm performance indicators such as apple yields, net returns and household income, using cross-sectional data from a survey of farmers in China. An endogenous switching regression model that accounts for selection bias is employed in the analysis. The empirical results reveal that cooperative membership exerts a positive and statistically significant impact on apple yields, farm net returns and household income. A disaggregated analysis also reveals that small-scale farms tend to benefit more from cooperatives than medium and large farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]