Testing Theories of Cooperative Arrangements in Agricultural Markets: Results from Producer Groups in Poland

The main question posed in the paper asks why do some cooperative arrangements in agricultural markets survive and succeed and others fail? We define success and factors affecting success of cooperation using transaction costs theory and game theory. Transaction costs theory provides insights on comparative advantage of one form of organization versus others and proposes, while game theory focuses on interdependencies between partners entering the arrangements. Data were collected from 62 Polish farmer cooperative organizations called producer groups. The main aim of those organizations was to organize joint sales of output produced individually by their members. Some of the groups were functioning effectively while others that had disbanded or were no longer performing their essential functions. Variables such as the leaders strength, previous business acquaintances, initial selection of members, and number of members have a significant positive impact on the likelihood of success of the researched organizations.Cooperation, agricultural markets, producer groups, Poland, Agribusiness, Marketing,

New modes of governance of cooperative arrangements in agricultural markets: The case of Polish producer groups

The cooperative movement in Poland has a long but difficult history. The socialistic regime introduced a command and control system into cooperatives which was destructive to their self-governing functions and eventually led to a lack of member involvement. There was a mass neglecting and abandonment after the transformation in particular of rural cooperatives. Nonetheless, in the early 1990s the first farmers’ cooperative marketing organizations, called agricultural producer groups, appeared on the market. They are bottom-up, voluntary organizations whose main purpose is to jointly sell their members’ output Although producer groups functions similarly to marketing cooperatives, farmers establishing producer groups have been choosing other legal forms than cooperatives. In the paper we investigate why the new forms of governance of cooperative arrangements are chosen and what are the implication of these choices for the success of the groups on the market. We discuss the impact of invested capital, the impact of advisors, and the impact of institutional environment on this choice. The empirical data was collected on 62 producer groups functioning in one province of Poland.Co-operatives, Governance, Organizational choice, Poland, Producer groups, Socialist legacy, Agribusiness,

WP4: Novel processes and tools in multi-level governance in Europe

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Agricultural Producer Groups in Poland: Empirical Survey Results

The article presents basic results from an empirical survey carried out in Poland with leaders of farmer organizations called producer groups. The main objective of the research was to understand the process of formation and the mechanism of functioning of the groups as well as to identify problems and critical points during the groups’ running. The data suggest that the core element to understand the phenomena of producer groups in Poland is not only to analyze the economic and market situation of the groups, but also to investigate the nature of collective actions in their governance dimension

Testing Theories of Cooperative Arrangements in Agricultural Markets: Results from Producer Groups in Poland

The main question posed in the paper asks why do some cooperative arrangements in agricultural markets survive and succeed and others fail? We define "success" and factors affecting success of cooperation using transaction costs theory and game theory. Transaction costs theory provides insights on comparative advantage of one form of organization versus others and proposes, while game theory focuses on interdependencies between partners entering the arrangements. Data were collected from 62 Polish farmer cooperative organizations called producer groups. The main aim of those organizations was to organize joint sales of output produced individually by their members. Some of the groups were functioning effectively while others that had disbanded or were no longer performing their essential functions. Variables such as the leader's strength, previous business acquaintances, initial selection of members, and number of members have a significant positive impact on the likelihood of success of the researched organizations

Compliance with Rules and Sanctions in Producer Groups in Poland

This paper examines the determinants of compliance with rules and imposing sanctions in Polish farmer cooperative organizations called producer groups. The main task performed by these groups is to organize joint sales of the output produced by individual farmers. Members of some groups broke the group rules and sold their output independently of the group without the group permission. The results show that the likelihood of unpermitted sales outside the group is significantly negatively affected by the price premium which members get for their output and positively affected by the group size. The likelihood of imposing sanctions on the farmers who broke the group rules is significantly negatively affected by the price premium and positively affected by having a long-term contract by the group. Price premium also negatively affects the severity of the imposed sanctions

New modes of governance of cooperative arrangements in agricultural markets: The case of Polish producer groups

The cooperative movement in Poland has a long but difficult history. The socialistic regime introduced a command and control system into cooperatives which was destructive to their self-governing functions and eventually led to a lack of member involvement. There was a mass neglecting and abandonment after the transformation in particular of rural cooperatives. Nonetheless, in the early 1990s the first farmers’ cooperative marketing organizations, called agricultural producer groups, appeared on the market. They are bottom-up, voluntary organizations whose main purpose is to jointly sell their members’ output Although producer groups functions similarly to marketing cooperatives, farmers establishing producer groups have been choosing other legal forms than cooperatives. In the paper we investigate why the new forms of governance of cooperative arrangements are chosen and what are the implication of these choices for the success of the groups on the market. We discuss the impact of invested capital, the impact of advisors, and the impact of institutional environment on this choice. The empirical data was collected on 62 producer groups functioning in one province of Poland

Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Insulin Resistance: Effective Intervention of Plant-Based Diets—A Critical Review

Plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular. Vegetarian diets are better for the environment and exhibit health benefits. A correctly balanced plant-based diet is appropriate at every stage of life. Compared to omnivores, vegetarians consume more fruits and vegetables, more fibre, vitamins C and E, magnesium and less saturated fats. In general, they have better nutrition knowledge, and they are slimmer, healthier and live longer than omnivores. It also seems that following a plant-based diet prevents the onset of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers. Food intake has a key influence on insulin resistance. Consumption of calorie-rich and highly processed foods, meats and sweetened beverages is a characteristic element of Western diets. They promote and elevate insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In contrast, intake of pulses and exclusion of meats as well as animal products bring significant benefits to vegetarian diets. According to studies, vegetarians and vegans have better blood parameters, including better glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels. Their homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) test results are also better. More plant-based foods and fewer animal foods in a diet result in lower insulin resistance and a lower risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of plant-based diets on insulin resistance. In this review, we focused on presenting the positive effects of vegetarian and vegan diets on insulin resistance while showing possible clinical applications of plant-based diets in the treatment and prevention of modern-age diseases. Current and reliable publications meeting the requirements of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) were taken into account in this review