Collaboration within food supply chains and the environmental benefits of the co-operative business model

Although the economic benefits of agricultural co operatives has received significant attention both from practitioners and academics, their environmental advantages remain relatively under researched. This paper explores different aspects of co-operatives and how environmental benefits, especially climate change benefits, may be achieved through increased co-operative activity within food supply chains. A qualitative case study approach is taken and a template analysis of interview data conducted to show that whilst co-operative businesses achieve efficiencies through economies of scale, knowledge/skills transfer, sharing of risks and other means, this may also lead to a co-incidental reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.