COLLECTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN AGRICULTURE AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN GREECE

• Published in: Journal of the Geographical Institute Jovan Cviji?, SASA Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 109 - 128
• Main Authors: Panagiota, Sergaki, Nastis A., Stefanos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Географски институт »Јован Цвијић« САНУ 2011; Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijić" SANU; Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijić" SASA
• Subjects: Agricultural cooperatives; Agriculture; collective entrepreneurship; competitiveness; Human Geography; new generation cooperatives; Rural and urban sociology; sustainable rural development; competitiveness; new generation cooperatives; sustainable rural development; Agricultural cooperatives; collective entrepreneurship
• ISSN: 0350-7599; 1821-2808
• DOI: 10.2298/IJGI1102109P

Agricultural Cooperatives, as member-owned and controlled agribusiness enterprises traditionally play an important role in upgrading the socio-economic status of their members and local Communities. However, in Greece, the majority of Agricultural Cooperatives face severe financial problems, which undermine their existence. In order to surpass this situation, they have sought means of enhancing their business dimension using more competitive forms of collaboration. These include alternative forms of collective entrepreneurship associated with the transformation of “Traditional Cooperatives” into “New Generation Cooperatives”, which under appropriate conditions can ensure their development and their members’ welfare. The typology developed in the present paper presents distinct patterns of collective entrepreneurship in which the traditional cooperative and the private enterprise are the extreme poles. The typology presented allows the comparison of alternative forms of collective entrepreneurship in the light of a three-dimensional balance between economic development, environmental protection and social equity.