ZEF Colloquium on Five myths about producer organizations and rural development

February 18, 2021 | 14:30 h - 15:30 h

ZEF Colloquium

Speaker: Eva-Marie Meemken (Assistant Professor at University of Copenhagen)

Topic: Five myths about producer organizations and rural development

Please, see below the Zoom link. Note that registration is required - you will be redirected to the registration page by clicking on the link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Producer organizations—such as cooperatives and other farmer-based groups—receive substantial attention and policy support, given their potential to contribute to pro-poor rural development, especially in lower-income countries. Here, we synthesize decades of empirical research in the form of five myths—common and largely unchallenged conclusions—about producer organizations and rural development. We also add new empirical insights using several secondary, nationally representative data set as well as unique primary data at the individual, household, producer organization, and community levels, which together cover 12 countries and ten years. Using these diverse data sets, we address several prominent research gaps, namely limited external validity, focus on the household level, and limited consideration of organizational characteristics. The five identified myths are: (i) marginalized farmers tend to be excluded, but (ii) producer organizations mitigate market and policy failures by facilitating access to services, inputs, and markets, implying that (iii) members typically benefit. Yet (iv) producer organizations vary substantially in terms of their characteristics, which can matter for outcomes among members. On average, however, (v) producer organizations benefit not only members but also non-members and communities at large. We confirm some myths, challenge others, and highlight which ones lack empirical evidence to derive policy implications and direction for future research. We especially highlight largely overlooked low and regionally biased participation rates; and suggest that future research should pay more attention to the diverse forms, characteristics, environments, and success rates of producer organizations..

Eva-Marie Meemken is assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen in the Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO). She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Göttingen and was a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell and Minnesota (USA). Her research focuses on global agrifood systems and the proliferation of institutional arrangements such as standards, contracts, and member-based organizations. 

Registration to Zoom Meeting: https://uni-bonn.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcsceigrTkuG9EPdEZu5GS11XcfLgY0nWi3

Meeting ID: 931 6183 2415

Passcode: 154065