Anna Ceballos
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Steven Samford
Co-Presenter: Gozon, Kaitlyn
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Organizational Studies / LSA
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 5 – 3:40pm – 4:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Steven Samford, Anna Ceballos, Kaitlyn Gozon
Presenter: 110
Abstract
Despite the abundance of research on for-profit businesses, there is not much known about cooperatives, which are democratic businesses owned and run by its members with goals beyond profit, such as the welfare of producers. This research focuses on how these types of organizations in developing economies adapt to specific challenges that arise in a changing environment. This study aims to accumulate knowledge through interviews of members in a cooperative, as well as reading previous academic research. Based on the legal framework, government regulations, and other organizations involved for a variety of countries, a deep case study analysis was formed for two specific locations: cooperatives in Costa Rica and the Philippines. Because the study is still in its beginning stages, it is difficult to draw concrete conclusions of the information gathered thus far. As it stands, the specific cooperatives studied faced different challenges, including but not limited to supply chain issues, issues related to land, issues related to climate change, and lack of support. In spite of these obstacles, they were still able to persevere under the collective interest of their members and producers. This study is valuable because it will aid future researchers. Furthermore, it will add to the consumer’s understanding of where their food comes from and how it is produced.
Interdisciplinary, Social Sciences
