THE ROLE OF INTERCOOPERATION IN INNOVATION AND ADDING VALUE IN THE CONTEXT OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVISM

Resumo

This research is aimed to identify the influence of intercooperation on innovation and value addition in agricultural cooperativism. Agricultural cooperatives play an important role in coordinating and integrating production chains, sale of inputs and minimizing risks. However, there are theoretical gaps around fostering innovation, as well as the relationship of organizational and social interaction variables in the context of cooperatives. A case study was carried, out with a qualitative exploratory-descriptive approach, with cooperatives in Brazil and Spain. The study identified that intercooperation influences the transfer of resources for innovation by facilitating access to capital resources, organizational resources, and knowledge; the transfer of these resources, in turn, influences the addition of value, which occurs through industrialization, commercial packaging, certifications, geographical indications, commercial brands, product differentiation, traceability, sustainable processes, social responsibility and logistical processes.  The research contributes to a better understanding of the aspects that influence the development of innovation, as well as the addition of value to commodities and organizational and social interactions in cooperativism.