Co-ops 101 webinar recordings now available: How cooperatives work and the basic steps of development
Co-ops 101 webinar recordings now available: How cooperatives work and the basic steps of development Michigan State University
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Co-ops 101 webinar recordings now available: How cooperatives work and the basic steps of development
Three videos cover cooperative principles and co-op examples, steps to development and legal aspects or entities used.
Farmers and Cooperative Businesses
Farmers are subject to many forces, including high input costs, high marketing costs, and commodity market price swings. Individuals might find outside pressures affecting their housing costs or their ability to source a particular service or type of food. Cooperative businesses are one method farmers can use to develop shared marketing programs and individuals can use to work together to source particular goods or services. The cooperative business structure can be a great tool for the right situation.
Introduction to Cooperatives
To introduce cooperatives and how they work, the recordings of the webinar “Co-ops 101: How Cooperatives Work and the Basic Steps of Development” are now available for viewing on demand. The webinar was developed by Michigan State University Extension in partnership with the Crosshatch Center for Arts and Ecology. It is broken down into three videos.
Video 1: What are cooperatives? Examples and cooperative principles
Video 1 focuses on what cooperatives are and where they are used. Parker Jones of the MSU Product Center presents different examples of businesses that use the cooperative model. He then discusses the seven cooperative principles and how they operate within co-op businesses. You can watch Video 1 here.
Video 2: Determining the feasibility and fit of a co-op, and steps of cooperative development
Video 2 discusses how to assess whether a co-op is the right fit for a particular business. Chris Bardenhagen from the MSU Extension Farm Business Management Team covers the steps needed to determine the feasibility of a cooperative business plan and the timeline to develop a cooperative. You can watch Video 2 here.
Video 3: Business entities used for cooperatives
Video 3 explores the legal aspects of cooperatives, many of which track the cooperative principles previously presented. Bardenhagen discusses the entities that can be used to develop cooperatives in Michigan. You can watch Video 3 here.
Considering Alternatives
A cooperative business structure, however, is not right for everyone. To address this, presenters also explore other business entities and legal options beyond co-ops that still allow for cooperation.
Contact Information
Parker Jones, MSU Extension Product Center, has many years of business planning expertise working with farms and food systems. He is part of the MSU Product Center that hosts the Michigan Cooperative Development Center, and he sits on the board of Oryana Food Cooperative in Traverse City. Contact: jonesp28@msu.edu, Office telephone: 231-922-4620.
Daniel Marbury, Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology, moderated each session and developed this program with Parker and Chris. He has a wealth of experience working with small farm cooperatives and farmer peer-to-peer learning groups, among other collaborative community efforts. Contact: daniel@crosshatch.org Office telephone: 231-533-2555
Chris Bardenhagen, MSU Extension Farm Business Management, has worked with several cooperative development efforts in different capacities. Contact: bardenh1@msu.edu Office telephone: 231-256-9888.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
- Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
- Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.
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SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
- Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships.
Explanation
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SDG 2: Zero Hunger
The article discusses how cooperative businesses, such as those used by farmers, can help in developing shared marketing programs and sourcing particular goods or services. This aligns with SDG 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger by improving agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.
- The target identified is Target 2.3, which focuses on doubling the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.
- The indicator mentioned is Indicator 2.3.1, which measures the volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
-
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The article highlights how cooperative businesses can support decent job creation, entrepreneurship, and the growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises. This relates to SDG 8, which aims to promote decent work and economic growth.
- The target identified is Target 8.3, which focuses on promoting development-oriented policies that support productive activities and job creation.
- The indicator mentioned is Indicator 8.3.1, which measures the proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment.
-
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article mentions the importance of partnerships in developing cooperative businesses. This aligns with SDG 17, which aims to promote partnerships for the goals.
- The target identified is Target 17.17, which focuses on encouraging and promoting effective public-private and civil society partnerships.
- The indicator mentioned is Indicator 17.17.1, which measures the amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment. | Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. | Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex. |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. | Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships. |
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Fuente: canr.msu.edu
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