Collaborative Digital Solutions: Boosting Agricultural Democratisation Through Tech Company and Farming Cooperatives Collaborations
Words with positive connotations, such as “interdisciplinarity” and “collaboration,” can quickly slip into the category of buzzwords, void of much meaning. This is a shame, as the intersection of these two action concepts - the interdisciplinary approach and collaboration - seems like an almost surefire way to achieve prosperity.
To integrate meaning back into these concepts, we will explore this intersection through an example. How can we arrive at collaborative digital solutions? One way is to combine the resilience of farming cooperatives with the forward-thinking attitude of small tech companies.
Why should you stick around and read this article to the end? We have written it exactly for either members of farming cooperatives or those who work in a tech company and have a say in it. We will map out the benefits farming cooperatives can get from tech companies and map out farming cooperatives that tech companies can connect with.
Importance of Farming Cooperatives
Farming cooperatives are vital for small farmers as they pool resources, giving them access to machinery, markets, and bargaining power that would be unattainable individually. By working together, farmers can reduce costs, share risks, and increase their income through collective sales and purchasing.
As farmer representatives, farmer cooperatives raise awareness among farmers about the benefits of new technologies. Cooperatives also serve to remind farmers that collective action benefits us all, an individual farmer included - simultaneously helping small farmers understand the foundational role they have in the EU economy.
Cooperatives also play a crucial role in developing affordable digital solutions, enabling small-scale farmers to adopt technology that enhances productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness. By democratizing access to innovation, cooperatives empower farmers to modernize their operations, improve efficiency, and adapt to changing market demands, ensuring long-term viability in the agricultural sector.
Role of Farming Cooperatives as a Bridge Between Tech Companies and Agricultural DIHs
Farmer cooperatives serve as crucial intermediaries between Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) and farmers, helping to bridge the gap between technology and the fields.
Small EU farms, particularly those under 5 hectares, account for nearly 70% of all farms but often struggle with digital literacy. To address this, Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) provide essential support, using a “bottom-up” approach to equip these small farmers with the digital tools they need to transform their hard work into increased prosperity.
So what else, exactly, small farmers get from agricultural DIHs? They get:
- Innovative technologies for small-scale farmers
- Access to public and private funding for small farmers
- Digital technology and business training for small farmers
Tech Companies Benefit from Collaborating with Small Farmers, Too
If you are involved in a tech company and curious about how to connect with small farmers and why, keep these two steps in mind:
- Collaborate with researchers and scientists to jointly develop new solutions for agricultural challenges, enabling more rapid and effective innovation compared to traditional research methods.
- Network to build market access and opportunities by connecting with potential buyers and partners, which opens up new markets, diversifies income streams and increases resilience to market fluctuations.
We compiled a useful list of EU-located farming cooperatives below:
- Aveve (Belgium): A cooperative that supports Belgian farmers by supplying them with inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and machinery, Aveve is also involved in food production and distribution.
- Valio (Finland): A Finnish dairy cooperative owned by dairy farms, Valio is known for its innovation in dairy products, including lactose-free milk.
- FRCuma (Fédération Régionale des Coopératives d'Utilisation de Matériel Agricole) (France): A federation of agricultural machinery cooperatives. CUMA (Coopérative d'Utilisation de Matériel Agricole) helps farmers pool their resources to share agricultural machinery and equipment. This allows them to access modern and often expensive machinery without each farm having to purchase it individually, promoting efficiency and cost savings.
- AgriCord (EU-wide): A network of agri-agencies from various European countries that supports farmer organizations and cooperatives in developing countries, aiming to strengthen the agricultural sector globally.
- COAMO (Italy): An Italian cooperative focusing on the production of wine and olive oil, COAMO is well-known in the Mediterranean region.
- Agrial (France): A cooperative group involved in a variety of agricultural sectors, including vegetables, dairy, and beverages, Agrial is one of France's largest agricultural cooperatives.
In conclusion, the collaboration between tech companies and farming cooperatives holds immense potential for transforming the agricultural landscape. By combining the innovative power of small tech companies with the collective strength of farming cooperatives, we can create digital solutions that are accessible, effective, and sustainable. This partnership not only empowers small farmers to thrive in a digital world but also offers tech companies a unique opportunity to tap into new markets and drive meaningful change in the agriculture sector. Together, they can lead the way in democratizing technology and ensuring the long-term prosperity of small-scale farmers across the EU.
Further Reading:
Farmers Cooperatives: Strengthening Small Farmers Through Collective Action
