A Contribution from Cooperatives, Social Economy and Family Farming

I had the pleasure of accessing information about an increased participation of food coming from cooperatives and family farming in public purchases of the national, provincial and municipal states [in Argentina].

These political decisions were taken, by the States, for the provision of quality products such as those made by the social economy and family farming sectors.

In the “Here and Now” moment that we live in Argentina and in the world in the midst of the COVID 19 health crisis, the contribution to the payment of fair and not abusive prices for food products - a foundational criterion of the modern cooperative movement that was born in Rochdale in 1844 and that all cooperatives must observe and apply in their management processes and value added chains - is always a consideration of the products of the Social Economy and family farming.

Thus, the cooperative presence makes clear and sets guidelines to balance the market, controlling failures due to monopolistic price management, distortions, exceptional manipulation and dominant positions. A service often undervalued.

We must give greater visibility to these distinctive characteristics that are in the foundational spirit and in the DNA of the doctrine and/or practice of most of these entities, so that they are known by consumers, especially people who are not involved or who do not know the social economy sector, by identifying the cooperative origin on product labels.

We must communicate with greater intensity that cooperative and family farming products come from companies with 100% national capital and the work provided and registered is also authentically Argentine, carried out by associative and democratic companies with equitable distribution of surpluses; defenders of production and quality standards, taking care of the environment with friendly technologies.

Although we do not know the path that we are going to follow after the pandemic, we believe that a strengthened sector of the social economy will allow us to come out of the crisis, improve “quality of life” and produce better and more useful consumer goods for society in general, based on quality, sustainability, and traceability parameters, particularly in food for mass consumption, to avoid counterfeiting.

For this reason, we must think together to promote agricultural cooperatives for the defense of small and medium-sized companies, to add value and to better articulate and link with family farming; implement cooperative and family farming seals to differentiate them, to know who produces them, and value cooperative/associative work and the equitable distribution of surpluses with social inclusion.

It’s necessary that the main referents of these entities learn how to perform a flexible coordination that overcomes some existing antinomies between some cooperatives and certain family farming organizations.

In the agri-food management of cooperatives and family agriculture there is a significant increase in agroecological crops that ensure the safety of fresh food, in the case of vegetables and fruits.

Among the criteria that govern state purchases, along with the necessary measures regarding public health and sanitation, cooperative and family farming seals mentioned above should be privileged.

Finally, with a focus on territorial custody, local/regional development, and defense of the producer-member and the consumer sector, we insist on the privileged purchase of the States from cooperative products and family farming when the conditions and products offered are similar and the prices are lower or equal to those on the market.

This approach and method of organization allows prices, quality and conditions to have institutional and social control of producers and consumers.
Also, an added value for the organization of the cooperative state purchase is the affinity ties specially built with the municipalities that facilitate appropriate food supply operations and logistics.

This type of oiled relationship between the States and the social economy will allow, on the one hand, the re-circulation of economic surpluses at the local and regional level and, on the other, inform about market prices and set limits to irrational and speculative intermediation processes.
This proposal is connected with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially with SDG 12, "Responsible Production and Consumption", of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

We are convinced that cooperatives and family farming are good and intelligent agents of the economy to return to locally produced products, at fair prices and to enrich the strategic axes that the way out of the health crisis will require of all of us.