New report calls for “game‑changing” farmer co‑operation

Farmer co-operation in the UK: Opportunities for the industry includes insights into UK farmers’ current views on co-operation – and highlights the potential benefits of greater collaboration. The report found that:

• Economic advantage is usually the main reason for joining a co-op, but farmers often gain other benefits, such as saving time and being part of a community.
• The benefits that co-ops can bring are particularly relevant in addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by Brexit. Co-ops:
  • Increase economic resilience in the face of volatility, uncertainty and the risk of recession.
  • Consolidate bargaining power, in line with their members’ interests, in a tough trading environment.
  • Provide social capital that farmers will need in adapting to change.
  • Offer established platforms for farmers to collaborate in providing and being paid for environmental public goods.

The findings also highlighted scepticism amongst some farmers towards the co-operative model:

• Farmers often cite maintaining independence as a reason for not co-operating – but if independence is about achieving personal objectives, co-operating can actually help.
• There is a perception amongst a significant number of farmers that co-operatives are rigid, inflexible and need to improve their leadership, governance and communication.

Recommendations to come out of the research are:

• Collaboration between co-operatives needs to be reinforced by government policies that support and facilitate farmer co-operation and collaboration.
• Initiatives are needed to support the development of the next generation of farmer co-operators and create the leaders who will change attitudes and perceptions.
• The report also suggests that Defra’s £10 million ‘collaboration fund’ – announced in 2018 to help farmers navigate the transition after Brexit – could be used to help farmers benefit from co-operation.

“This fund could pay for advice, development and innovation support for existing co-ops to help them transition from being run by farmer members to having professional staff. Strengthening governance should be a priority for advice and development.

“Advice could also extend to busting myths about co-ops, including clarifying their status in competition law for farming industry bodies and advisors,” said Professor Tom MacMillan, who led the research.