Réorganisations dans la coopération agricole : proximités et solidarité territorial

Does market competition pressure systematically lead, because of a loosening of territorial ties, to a deterioration of the relationship between cooperatives and their members ? Beyond the heterogeneity of co-operatives, we have chosen to analyse the organisational changes in co-operatives, basing ourselves on the notion of proximity and on aspects that characterise the relationship between these organisations and their members. This approach enables us to describe three stylised organisational models. We examine them, basing ourselves on three aspects that make them original: the group's relationship with its members, risk sharing and the nature of the territorial ties. Forced to commit to traceability and food safety requirements, co-operatives must ensure that their membership is stable and fully committed, thus reinforcing their relationship. The emergence of a third so-called model of competitive advantage co-construction, situates the member at the heart of the generation of specific knowledge. It reflects an articulation of geographical and organisational dimensions of proximity that is related to a solidarity between the co-operatives and their members, and to the revalorization of territorial ties.