The sustainability performance of agricultural cooperatives: A systematic literature review

Pierre Chollet, Geoffroy Enjolras (), Iciar Pavez () and Louis‐antoine Saïsset ()
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Pierre Chollet: MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - UM - Université de Montpellier, Labex Entreprendre - UM - Université de Montpellier
Geoffroy Enjolras: CERAG - Centre d'études et de recherches appliquées à la gestion - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes, UGA INP IAE - Grenoble Institut d'Administration des Entreprises - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes
Iciar Pavez: UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes
Louis‐antoine Saïsset: UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement

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Abstract: This study examines how the literature addresses the sustainability performance of agricultural cooperatives through four key dimensions: economic and financial, environmental, social and governance. As key entities within the social economy, agricultural cooperatives play a crucial role in advancing sustainable development goals due to their community‐oriented structure, democratic governance based on the user–owner principle and strong territorial ties. We systematically review 274 articles published between 1991 and 2024 that address at least one dimension of the sustainability performance of agricultural cooperatives. Our thematic analysis reveals a significant increase in published studies since 2018, covering a wide range of countries and agricultural products. While the literature predominantly focuses on the economic and financial dimension—either alone or in combination with other dimensions—the environmental, governance and social dimensions are significantly underrepresented, especially in Europe and North America, and in specific sectors such as wine production. In addition, many studies lack a solid theoretical foundation. Overall, the sustainability performance of agricultural cooperatives remains a complex and evolving issue, and this study highlights avenues for future research to improve knowledge and practice.

Keywords: Agricultural cooperatives Literature review Performance Sustainability; Agricultural cooperatives; Literature review; Performance; Sustainability; Social and Solidarity Economy; social economy; sustainability performance; agricultural cooperative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-09-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-env and nep-hme
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Published in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, In press, ⟨10.1111/apce.70013⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05246932

DOI: 10.1111/apce.70013

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