UNICA: Challenges to Deliver Sustainability in the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry

Teaching Notes Available: [email protected] Author video introduction: http://www.youtube.com/user/ifamr1#p/u/7/4kZDvS7v5NAsustainability, biofuels, ethanol, industry association, teaching case, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries,

ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND FIRM-LEVEL INVESTMENT BEHAVIOR IN FOOD INDUSTRIES: A COMPARISON OF COOPERATIVES AND PUBLICLY TRADED FIRMS

This paper compares investment behavior of agricultural cooperatives and publicly traded firms in the food industry. The importance of financial constraints is examined by exploring whether ownership structure affects investment sensitivity to cash flow using a panel data approach based on the Q-theory of investment.Agribusiness,

Strategic Alliances in the U.S. Beef Supply Chain

This study analyzes vertical-coordination practices in the U.S. beef supply chain focusing on strategic alliances. We present results from a survey of beef alliances describing their organizational structure, the nature of participantsÂ’' involvement, contractual requirements, information-sharing practices, services offered to alliance participants, and marketing strategies. Survey results provide a detailed description of 13 beef alliances and are intended to inform potential participants about vertical-coordination alternatives. In addition, the study provides relevant information for future economic research on the formation, organization, and functioning of beef alliances.Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

COOPERATIVAS NO AGRONEGÓCIO DO LEITE: MUDANÇAS ORGANIZACIONAIS E ESTRATÉGICAS EM RESPOSTA À GLOBALIZAÇÃO

Amongst the greatest milk producers all over the world, Brazil stands out due to the low participation of dairy cooperatives in milk handling and commercialization. Several factors may be identified to explain cross-country differences regarding to dairy cooperative market share. This paper discusses aspects related to the organizational structure and strategic behavior of dairy cooperatives in response to the globalization process. Based on research projects, case studies, and interviews with industry leaders, the study analyzes common features of dairy cooperatives in the United States, Western Europe and Oceania, which grew and prospered under intense competitive pressures from multinational companies. Some necessary conditions for the strengthening the Brazilian dairy cooperative system are discussed, including: consolidation by means of mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliance and network formation, adoption of professional and representative governance systems, centralized structure (replacing the singular central model), efforts to enhance membership commitment, new capitalization models, and competitive strategy aligned with the cooperative structure.dairy cooperatives, competitive strategy, organizational structure.,

TESTING FOR THE PRESENCE OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS IN U.S.

It is commonly argued in the literature that agricultural cooperatives are financially constrained because they are unable to acquire sufficient risk capital to invest in productive assets. This study examines whether agricultural cooperatives' investment is constrained by estimating neoclassical and cash flow augmented Q investment models. Panel data regression results suggest that cooperative physical capital investment responds positively and significantly to both the marginal profitability of capital and cash flow. Results also indicate that all cooperative sub-samples face binding financial constraints when making investment decisions, but some cooperatives appear to be less financially constrained than others. The empirical analysis of the cooperative financial constraint hypothesis suggests that eliminating restrictions on residual claims might be a necessary condition for the attenuation of capital constraints in agricultural cooperatives.Agribusiness,

Putting Theories of the Firm in Their Place: A Supplemental Digest of the New Institutional Economics

Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

The Emergence of Non-Traditional Cooperative Structures: Public and Private Policy Issues

This paper examines new agricultural cooperative organizational models from an ownership rights perspective. We argue that new cooperative organizational models differ in the way ownership rights are assigned to the economic agents tied contractually to the firm � members, patrons, and investors. The paper proposes a typology of discrete organizational models, in which the traditional cooperative structure and the investor-oriented firm are characterized as polar forms. Five non-traditional models are described and analyzed with implications to both private and public policy.agricultural cooperatives, cooperative finance, ownership structure, property rights., Agribusiness,

Sources of Firm Performance Differences in the U.S. Food Economy: Exploring Specific Industry, Corporate and Business Segment Effects on Agribusiness Firm Profitability

Health Economics and Policy,

Redesigning the Food Chain: Trade, Investment and Strategic Alliances in the Orange Juice Industry

Change in trade barriers and capital flow creates opportunities for redesigning the food chain. The orange juice chain in U.S. and Brazil provides an interesting illustration of how institutional harmonization, high import tariff rates and complementary capabilities open new opportunities for strategic alliances and the re-arrangement in the FCOJ chain. This finding has the following implications. First, trade barriers are not enough to support FDI and related internationalization decisions. Second, the perspective of market integration creates a positive environment for new strategic alliances and the re-design of the food chain. And third, the existence of complementary capabilities between foreign and domestic companies is a necessary condition for this type of supply chain re-arrangement.FTAA, foreign direct investment, Orange Juice Industry, strategic alliances, Agribusiness,

Redes na agricultura argentina: um estudo de caso múltiplo

Argentina is among the four largest producers of soybeans, sunflower, corn, and wheat, among other agricultural products. Institutional and policy changes during the 1990s fostered the development of Argentine agriculture and the introduction of innovative process and product technologies (no-till, agrochemicals, GMO, GPS) and new investments in modern, large-scale sunflower and soybean processing plants. In addition to technological changes, a "quiet revolution" occurred in the way agricultural production was carried out and organized: from self-production or ownership agriculture to a contract-based agriculture. The objective of this paper is to explore and describe the emergence of networks in the Argentine crop production sector. The paper presents and describes four cases that currently represent about 50% of total grain and oilseed production in Argentina: "informal hybrid form", "agricultural trust fund", "investor-oriented corporate structure", and "network of networks". In all cases, hybrid forms involve a group of actors linked by common objectives, mainly to gain scale, share resources, and improve the profitability of the business. Informal contracts seem to be the most common way of organizing the agriculture process, but using short-term contracts and sequential interfirm collaboration. Networks of networks involve long-term relationships and social development, and reciprocal interfirm collaboration. Agricultural trust fund and investor-oriented corporate structures have combined interfirm collaboration and medium-term relationships. These organizational forms are highly flexible and show a great capacity to adapt to challenges; they are competitive because they enjoy aligned incentives, flexibility, and adaptability.La Argentina está entre los cuatro mayores productores mundiales de soja, girasol, maíz y trigo, entre otros productos agrícolas. Los cambios institucionales y políticos que ocurrieron en la década de 1990 fomentaron el desarrollo de la agricultura argentina y la introducción de innovaciones de productos y tecnologías (siembra directa, mayor uso de agroquímicos, cultivos transgénicos, GPS) y las nuevas inversiones en plantas de crushing en soja y girasol. Además de los cambios tecnológicos, una revolución silenciosa tuvo lugar en la producción agrícola: de la agricultura de autoproducción o propiedad a una agricultura basada en el contrato. El objeto en este trabajo es explorar y describir la aparición de redes en el sector de producción agrícola en Argentina. Se presentan y describen cuatro casos que actualmente representan aproximadamente el 50% del total de siembra de granos en el país: forma híbrida informal, fideicomiso, estructura orientada hacia los inversores y red de redes. En todos los casos, se analizan las formas híbridas que involucran a un grupo de actores unidos por objetivos comunes, principalmente con el fin de aumentar la escala de producción, compartir recursos y mejorar la rentabilidad del negocio. Estas formas de organización son muy flexibles y muestran una gran capacidad de adaptación a los desafíos. Además, son competitivas porque cuentan con incentivos alineados y flexibilidad.A Argentina está entre os quatro maiores produtores de soja, girassol, milho e trigo, entre outros produtos agrícolas. As mudanças institucionais e políticas na década de 1990 incentivaram o desenvolvimento da agricultura na Argentina e na introdução de inovações de produtos e tecnologias (plantio direto, aumento do uso de agrotóxicos, transgênicos, GPS) e novos investimentos em plantas de crushing em soja e girassol. Além de mudanças tecnológicas, uma revolução silenciosa ocorreu na produção agrícola: de uma agricultura de autoprodução ou propriedade para uma agricultura com base no contrato. O objetivo neste trabalho é explorar e descrever o surgimento de redes no setor de produção agrícola na Argentina. São apresentados e descritos quatro casos que, atualmente, constituem cerca de 50% do plantio total de grãos na Argentina: forma híbrida informal, trust, estrutura orientada para o investidor, e rede de redes. Em todos os casos, abordam-se as formas híbridas envolvendo um grupo de atores unidos por objetivos comuns, principalmente para aumentar a produção em escala, compartilhar recursos e melhorar a rentabilidade. Essas formas de organização são altamente flexíveis e mostram grande capacidade de adaptação aos desafios, além de serem competitivas, porque têm incentivos alinhados, flexibilidade e adaptabilidade