Initiatives and Challenges of Agricultural Cooperatives in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from Region I, Philippines

Agricultural cooperatives are widely recognized as important institutional actors in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in agrarian and rural economies. This study examines the initiatives, services, and constraints of agricultural cooperatives in relation to the SDGs in Region I of the Philippines. A mixed-methods design was used, combining a structured survey of officers from 30 medium and large agricultural cooperatives with selected semi-structured interviews to provide context for the quantitative findings. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize cooperative profiles, services, and SDG-aligned practices, while cross-tabulations were used to examine differences in governance, climate- and resource-related, and market challenges by cooperative size. The findings show that most cooperatives are medium-sized and long-established, with lean staffing structures and moderate asset bases. Core services remain concentrated on credit provision and commodity distribution, while higher-value activities such as processing and mechanization are less common. Cooperatives implement a wide range of initiatives aligned with multiple SDGs, with the strongest engagement observed in poverty reduction, food security, decent work, and partnerships. These contributions, however, are constrained by persistent challenges related to governance, limited access to finance, market competition, and environmental and climate risks. Medium-sized cooperatives report greater vulnerabilities in governance, environmental pressures, and market access than larger cooperatives, which, despite greater resilience, face more pronounced bureaucratic constraints. Overall, the results point to the need for profile-sensitive interventions that strengthen governance, expand access to finance and markets, and improve the integration of environmental sustainability into cooperative operations. Addressing these areas can enhance the capacity of agricultural cooperatives to contribute more effectively to inclusive and sustainable rural development and to the achievement of the SDGs.