Cooperative Agribusiness Development:
What are we learning in Latin America?
Fabio Chaddad
University of Missouri
Workshop
Enhancing Development through Cooperatives (EDC)
OCDC, Washington, DC – January 12-13, 2015
EDC

Fabio Chaddad
• B.Sc. Agronomy, University of São Paulo
• M.Sc. Agribusiness Management, University of São
Paulo
• Ph.D. Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri
• Associate Professor, Agribusiness Management,
University of Missouri
– Research and Teaching

Experience in Cooperative
Agribusiness Development
• Brazil
• Uruguay
• Argentina

Experience in Cooperative
Agribusiness Development
• Brazil – Davi Costa (FEARP/USP)
• Uruguay – Mario Mondelli (OPYPA, CINVE)
• Argentina – Sebastian Senesi (UBA)

Cooperative Agribusiness
Development in Brazil: Context
1975 1980 1990 2000 2010
Total value of production
(US$ million)
35,883 45,839 61,052 89,187 140,127
Grain production
(million metric tons)
39,400 50,871 58,280 83,030 149,255
Meat production
(million metric tons)
3,394 5,385 8,414 14,510 24,622
Agricultural land
(1,000 ha)
43,387 52,998 56,230 66,362 91,426
Agricultural labor
(1,000 persons)
15,760 16,342 14,062 13,325 11,049
Animal capital stock
(1,000 head)
122,199 150,459 184,002 207,220 254,819
Farm machinery capital
stock (number of tractors) 338,613 563,205 751,779 824,466 815,053
Fertilizer consumption
(1,000 metric tons)
2,190 4,635 3,460 7,807 10,772

Main Agricultural Regions in Brazil
Southern region: smallholders,
diversified agriculture, cooperatives
Southeastern region: export-
oriented crops; vertically-
integrated agribusinesses
Center-west: grains
and fibers; commercial
and corporate farms

Cooperative Agribusiness
Development in Brazil: Context

Cooperative Agribusiness
Development in Brazil: Context

Cooperative Agribusiness
Development in Mato Grosso

Mato Grosso, Brazil

Corporate Farming in Brazil
Source: AGROCONSULT
Size
(1,000 hectares)
2002 2012 2022
> 400 0 1 5
200-400 0 4 10
100-200 1 3 20
50-100 3 19 40
30-50 1 11 40
TOTAL 5 38 115
38 groups – 14 million tons – 3.5 million hectares

Cooperative Agribusiness
Development in Mato Grosso
• Sponsors: OCB and SESCOOP/MT, Aprosoja
and AMPA
• Objectives:
1. Cooperative development to increase producer
income
– Existing cooperatives
– New cooperatives
2. Build a cooperative business network

Cooperative Agribusiness
Development in Mato Grosso
• Workshops in 2011 and 2012
– Convince producers and stakeholders that the
cooperative can be a viable business enterprise
• Summer 2012
– 10 case studies of existing cooperatives
– 20 interviews with leaders of new groups
• Planning workshop in November 2012

Cooperative Agribusiness
Development in Mato Grosso
• Since 2013: Cooperative Leaders Forum
– 23 cooperatives – 3 million hectares
• 2014
– Survey of 35 cooperatives
– Course on Cooperative Governance
– Study Trip in the U.S. (GICL)
• 2015
– Continue with Cooperative Leaders Forum
– Discussion groups focused on specific functions
– Feasibility plan of a service cooperative

Lessons Learned
• Engagement of local sponsors
• Group of cooperative leaders committed to the
project
• Meet frequently; constant engagement
• Research and local knowledge are vital
• Cooperative education is also vital
• Challenge to reach out more producers
• Resources
• Slow, but constant progress

Questions?
ChaddadF@missouri.edu