Competitividad de las cooperativas hortofrutícolas: análisis del impacto económico de las acciones de calidad y medioambientales en las OPFH andaluzas

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of environmental practices and improved quality on business competition variables such as efficiency, profitability and market share among the Andalucian fresh fruit and vegetable co-operative sector. The study takes as a reference the Andalucian Co-operative Societies and Agricultural Producer Companies (currently known as Fruit and Vegetable Producer Associations–FVPA-) and the programme of incentives applied to development of this type of producer and commercial practice, considered a priority objective in the Common Market Organisations of the CAP. In the first place, we propose an analysis of the production function including the aforesaid actions as part of the productive input to determine their effect on business value-added; and secondly, an analysis through estimating simultaneous equations, beginning from the differentiating effect of investment in quality-environmental actions, and taking into account possible problems of endogeneity between variables. Results show, on one hand, a positive effect on value-added, though this (including the subsidies item) does not entirely offset the possible costs of innovation; while on the other hand, a positive correlation is observed between quality-environmental actions and sector competitiveness variables, which perhaps, up to now, represents the main incentive for this type of practice.Fruit and vegetable co-operatives, FVPA, Operating Programmes, quality-environmental, value-added, efficiency, profitability, market share.

Cooperative Longevity and Sustainable Development in a Family Farming System

This paper focuses on small holding, family farming in Southeast Spain where agricultural economic activity is predominantly organized around cooperative business models. A variety of diverse studies on the Almería agricultural and credit cooperative sector and the exploration of social-economic and eco-social indicators, in addition to economic-market indicators are presented. Each correspond to a cooperative “logic” that spans theoretical perspectives from the dominant economic-market model, new institutionalism, and an eco-social approach, echoing theories on collective coordination governance, and the avoidance of the “tragedy of the commons”. The latter is of particular importance given environmental challenges and scarce resources for agricultural activity. The cooperatives in Almería have increasingly relied on collective collaboration and coordination in order to meet social-economic and social-ecological challenges, transforming their role from that founded on a market dominant logic to that of cooperation as a coordination mechanism based on the mutual benefit of the community and environment. In turn, their ability to meet a wide range of needs and challenges of members and the community leads to their longevity. Cooperatives are able to act as both a market and non-market coordination mechanism, balancing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, such that neither market nor non-market logics are dominant or exclusive

On the formation of price expectations in the fruit and vegetable export sector in south-eastern of Spain

[EN] The temporal difference existing between the planning of the supply and the demand of agrarian products has caused that the theories about the formation of price expectations have a traditionally great importance in such sectors as those of vegetables and fruits. The tendency to a greater connexion between production and commercialisation in associated entities (in productive place) implies an increase of the efficiency on the use of available information to make forecats on the different variables in the market. The aim of the present study is to determine empirically the existence of price valuations, taking as a reference the production-comercialisation in the south-easterm horticultural sector of Spain, consider enterprises that sell fruits and vegetable institutions of food distribution in the framework of the European Union. For this purpuse, it has been started from the combination of traditional formulations of expectations based on retarded variables, on the one hand, and models of rational expectations, on the other. By this method is deduced the use of complementary information to the price retards; also, the relation existing between that use of information to both the degree of response of the supply regarding the fluctuations in prices and the efficiency on expectative formation is analysed.[ES] La diferencia temporal existente entre la planificación de la oferta y la demanda de productos agrarios, conlleva a que, tradicionalmente, en sectores como el de frutas y hortalizas cobren gran interés las teorías sobre formación de expectativas de precios. En las últimas décadas, la tendencia hacia una mayor interrelación entre la producción y la comercialización (en origen) presente en entidades asociativas implica un aumento de la disponibilidad y utilización de la información para realizar previsiones sobre las distintas variables. El objeto de este estudio es determinar empíricamente la existencia de estimaciones sobre el precio, tomando como referencia actividad productoracomercializadora del sector hortofrutícola del sureste español, que tiene como destinos principales los mercados y centros de distribución alimentaria en el ámbito de la Unión Europea. Para ello, se parte de la combinación de las formulaciones tradicionales de expectativas basadas en variables retardadas y de los modelos de expectativas racionales. Dicho método permite deducir el uso de información complementaria a los retardos de precio; adicionalmente, se analiza la relación de este hecho con el grado de respuesta de la oferta ante las oscilaciones de precio, así como, con la eficiencia en la formación de expectativas.Galdeano Gómez, E. (2001). Formación de expectativas de precio en el sector hortofrutícola exportador del sureste español. Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 1(2):21-41. doi:10.7201/earn.2001.02.0221411

Is Sustainability Compatible with Profitability? An Empirical Analysis on Family Farming Activity

Sustainability is a social concern and a new strategic factor for productive and economic viability. Nevertheless, research on this subject in a holistic approach is limited, and even to a lesser extent when dealing with family farms. This paper analyzes the impact of different aspects of sustainability (socio-economic characteristics, environmentally respectful practices, and innovation) on profitability. The data collection instruments include a survey questionnaire on farming in Almería, a province in Southeast Spain, and the methodology followed involves a two-step regression model. The main results show how several socio-economic and environmental-innovation features of family farms have positive effects on their economic performance. Among others, profitability increases when there are better educated and younger family farm decision-makers; the farm is specialized and supported by more efficient cooperatives: and, particularly, when the family farm displays greater concern for environmental practices and better disposition towards agroecological innovation

Territory, Cluster and Competitiveness of the Intensive Horticulture in Almería (Spain)

Almería is Spain’s leading area for the production and exportation of vegetables. In this province we can find the largest area of greenhouses in the world, around which a major agroindustrial cluster has arisen. The present study follows a holistic approach to analyse its development and the modification of its sources of advantage. For this purpose, Porter’s theoretical and analytical framework is considered. The particular natural resources of the territory were fundamental in the growth of this sector in the 1970’s, allowing it to achieve absolute comparative advantages. Nowadays, the agroindustrial cluster that has built up around the greenhouse industry has enhanced the competitiveness of the sector by generating systemic and dynamic competitive advantages

Determinants of Food Safety Level in Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers’ Supply Chain: Evidence from Spain and France

Food safety management in short supply chains of fruit and vegetables, controlled by large retailers, has been widely studied in the literature. However, when it comes to traditional long supply chains, which include a greater number of intermediaries and wholesalers who, in some cases, play a dual role as resellers and producers, the mechanisms which promote the use of safety certifications have yet to be clearly defined. The present study intended to fill this gap in the literature and shed light on the food safety level that exists in this channel. In addition, this work attempted to identify the existence of differences between both sales systems. For this purpose, the empirical research studied the most important variables that influence the food safety level of some of the main European fruit and vegetable wholesalers. A survey was thus designed and later applied to Spanish and French intermediaries working in key wholesale markets and in the southeast of Spain, which is the leading commercialization area of these products in Europe. The results revealed the positive influence of specific customers (big retailers) on establishing stricter safety controls within wholesale companies. It was also observed that specific wholesalers also play an important role in the system, namely those dedicated to importing, but which are also responsible for quality and safety inspection of agri-food products exported from third countries into the European Union

Policy and Environmental Implications of Photovoltaic Systems in Farming in Southeast Spain: Can Greenhouses Reduce the Greenhouse Effect?

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have grown in popularity in the farming sector, primarily because land area and farm structures themselves, such as greenhouses, can be exploited for this purpose, and, moreover, because farms tend to be located in rural areas far from energy production plants. In Spain, despite being a country with enormous potential for this renewable energy source, little is being done to exploit it, and policies of recent years have even restricted its implementation. These factors constitute an obstacle, both for achieving environmental commitments and for socioeconomic development. This study proposes the installation of PV systems on greenhouses in southeast Spain, the location with the highest concentration of greenhouses in Europe. Following a sensitivity analysis, it is estimated that the utilization of this technology in the self-consumption scenario at farm level produces increased profitability for farms, which can range from 0.88% (worst scenario) to 52.78% (most favorable scenario). Regarding the Spanish environmental policy, the results obtained demonstrate that the impact of applying this technology mounted on greenhouses would bring the country 38% closer to reaching the 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) target. Furthermore, it would make it possible to nearly achieve the official commitment of 20% renewable energies by 2020. Additionally, it would have considerable effects on the regional socioeconomy, with increases in job creation and contribution to gross domestic product (GDP)/R&D (Research and Development), allowing greater profitability in agrifood activities throughout the entire region

Management System for Harvest Scheduling: The Case of Horticultural Production in Southeast Spain

This article analyzes the programming of farm production, understood not only as the choice among several crops, but also as their temporal distribution. The empirical study takes as a reference the horticultural sector in southeast Spain, since this area constitutes the highest concentration of small-scale farm production in Europe, where the climatic conditions allow the possibility of several harvests in year-round production, as well as several alternative crops. Firstly, we study the production programming for an individual farmer, under the assumption that their decisions do not affect the balance of market prices. In this case a modified Markowitz model is used for the scheduling of crop marketing. Secondly, we study the sales arrangements for a farming-marketing cooperative, under the assumption that their sales volume is such that the entity is capable of altering the market balance. A model of monthly revenues and margins is proposed, and the results show a clear improvement in both margins and revenues if the harvest is programmed in this way

Intensive Horticulture in Almería (Spain): A Counterpoint to Current European Rural Policy Strategies

Much of the recently published literature in Europe on rural development tends to focus on de-agrarianization and multifunctionality in rural livelihoods as a way to generate employ- ment and incomes. This paper analyses the case of Almería (Spain), an exception to this general rule. Almería, once one of the poorest Spanish provinces, has become the most affluent province in Andalusia and ranks now about average in Spain. This fast growth rate was achieved thanks to the development of intensive horticulture and its processes of change from the 1970s to the present day, due to the factors reviewed in the present study.This success story is a counterpoint to current European rural development strategies that consider the promotion of agriculture a mistake and advocate instead the economic diversification of farms

Retail price rigidity in perishable food products: a case study

Why are retailers less likely to vary sale prices of food products when the price paid to the farmer falls than when it rises? As far as perishable goods are concerned, this behavior is usually related to the retailer’s bargaining power. With a view to analyzing the question in greater depth, this study presents a simplified framework considering an ideal scenario in which the retailer wishes to maintain balanced profits due to external pressures or other factors, such as a competitive distribution market. In the face of changing supply, the price-fixing decision of the distributor may also depend on the risk, measured by the relationship between demand elasticity and variable costs, as a result of uncertainty in consumer response to price variations. The simulation of these scenarios is carried out taking as reference the Spanish tomato market. The results of these applications allow to see that despite a relaxation of bargaining power, price asymmetry is not avoided. This work shows the difficulty for suppliers and retailers to reach agreements which could result in competitive advantages