Agricultural cooperatives enable producers to realize economic benefits that they could not otherwise achieve alone. Groups of agricultural producers improve their bargaining power in the marketplace, reduce costs by pooling capital and resources through cooperative enterprises, and make expensive services, such as marketing, that are unavailable to individuals accessible. Through cooperatives, farmers can achieve economies of scale, by reducing the unit costs of inputs and services, enabling farmers to focus on producing goods rather than finding buyers and suppliers. Cooperatives also enable farmers to improve product and service quality and reduce risks. Agricultural cooperatives can allow farmers to address common problems, develop new market opportunities or expand existing markets. Agricultural cooperatives empower farmers and improve their position in the marketplace.

The Committee on Agricultural Cooperatives is a permanent forum devoted to strengthening the position of cooperatives in the agricultural sector and tp lobbying for a pro-cooperative policy environment at national and international levels.

Officers of the Committee 2008-2010:

President: Marcus Borgstrom (Finland)

Vice-Presidents: Gaston Rico (Uruguay); Andrwe Hepelwa (Tanzania); and Mr. ChoiI, Won Byung (Korea Republic)

• Increase the competitiveness of cooperatives around the world in the current international context; especially by strengthening their position in the agri-food chain.

• Lobby decision-makers for a pro-cooperative policy environment at national and international levels: governments should facilitate coops’ activities through trade policies, financial policies and legislation.

• Strengthen the capacity of cooperatives around the world: education and training for members, staff and leaders of cooperatives; coops governance, stability of membership, and negotiating power of coops.

• Strengthen the link between agricultural cooperatives, society and consumers.