November 2017

EUROPE
European farm co-ops leader meets with UN to discuss development
The president of Cogeca – the representative
body for of European agri-co-ops – has
met with a director of the UN to stress the
multiple benefits of the business model and
make the case for its development.
Thomas Magnusson met Daniela Bas,
director of social policy and development
at the UN, to look at how to collaborate on a
more supportive and positive environment
for the development of co-operatives.
At the meeting in New York, Mr
Magnusson said: “At Cogeca, we represent
22, 000 co-operatives in the EU who have
nearly 7 million farmer members.
“They process and trade 40% of
the total output of the EU agricultural
sector, providing unique services and
ensuring a better positioning for farmers in
the food chain.”
Explaining the co-operative model, he
said: “They are unique from other types of
business as they are owned and controlled
by their farmer members who can use the
services to their benefit and who at the end
of the year will get a share of the profits.”
Mr Magnusson welcomed the resolutions
on co-operatives from the UN General
Assembly, which he thinks will give
momentum to the global co-op movement.
“I look forward to keeping up this
momentum and collaborating further with
the UN to encourage the development of
agri-co-operatives,” he said.
He was also pleased to see the UN’s
recognition of the power of co-operatives
to achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
“Our members have a unique role to play
in realising the SDGs,” he said. “Unlike
any other economic sector, European
farmers and their co-operatives play a
vital role in providing food, as well
delivering territorial, environmental and
social objectives.”
Mr Magnusson said European agrico-operatives
are developing innovative
products and in finding new ways to
eliminate food losses and food waste all
along the supply chain.
“They offer infrastructures, for
instance, to smallholder farmers to
help minimise post-harvest losses and
engage in innovative recycling, reuse, byproduct
synergies, and renewable energy
projects,” he added.
“I need to stress that a competitive
farming sector and viable rural areas play an
essential role in delivering environmental,
economic and social sustainability.”
SPAIN
Agri co-ops join initiative to address land abandonment in Valencia
A co-operative solution is being considered
for the problem of abandoned farm land
in Valencia, Spain.
Land left derelict, along with a lack
competitiveness in region’s the agricultural
sector, particularly in citrus, fruit, dry fruit
and vineyards, is a growing concern and
now the Ministry of Agriculture is looking
at ways to address the situation.
One of the solutions envisioned in the
scheme, which has European funding,
is setting up agri co-operatives to
p A meeting to discuss the land management scheme
manage land collaboratively. The project
has led to the formation of the Group for
Social Innovation and Management of
Lands (INNOLAND), which includes a
number of co-operative federations and
other organisations.
On 3 October INNOLAND hosted a
workshop at the Palacio de los Mercader,
the headquarters of the Federation of agri
food co-operatives in Valencia. Over 40
people took part in the session, sharing
their experiences and views on the issue
of social innovation in land
management.
When plots of land are
abandoned, it hurts the
production capacity of
co-operatives, alongside
their offer capacity and
competitiveness within
the markets. Tourism is
also indirectly affected
by the phenomenon.
If abandoned plots are
identified and managed,
co-operatives can increase
production and better
plan it to meet their clients’ needs.The
project falls in line with a legislative
initiative of the Valencian autonomous
government designed to prevent
land abandonment.
The workshop featured three case studies
from co-ops across the region – rural
co-operative San Vicente Ferrer
de Benaguasil, the Agri Cooperative
of Pego (Coopego) and
the Oleícola Serrana del Palancia
Co-operative (Viver).
One of the conclusions reached was
that co-operatives should not wait for
landowners to offer their land. Instead they
agreed to work with town and provincial
councils to detect plots of land that
might respond to the needs of the co-ops,
in accordance with a planning strategy
set out in advance. The strategy could
include common protocols for cultivation
and contracts for the assignment of plots.
They also discussed the need to have
advanced settlements included in the
contracts. The co-ops agreed to meet with
groups of landowners and discuss their
plans presenting potential results.
18 | NOVEMBER 2017