Análise de Estruturas de Redes de Cooperativas Atuantes na Comercialização de Alimentos para o Mercado Institucional no RS

Abstract

This research identifies, characterizes and analyzes how networks of cooperatives that emerged in Rio Grande do Sul after the advent of "Institutional Markets" that triggered an organization of structures aimed at the commercialization of food produced by farmers in this State. This qualitative and quantitative descriptive research aimed to identify and characterize these cooperation networks in relation to their propellingand restrictive factors and to analyze similarities and differences in relation to their typologies. Thissurvey identified six networks of active cooperatives, as listed hereafter: 1) Cecafes; 2) Unicooper; 3) Unicentral; 4) Central Metropolita; 5) RedeCoop and, 6) Nossa Terra. Through multivariate data analysis, an occurrence of three distinct groups was identified, one formed by the Central Cooperatives (Cecafes, Unicooper, Unicentral and Central Metropolitana), one formed by the Cooperative Association (RedeCoop) and one formed by the Single Cooperative (Nossa Terra). A formation of clusters indicates the presence of different types of networks, to know: a) Vertical Network formed by the Cooperative Centrals, b) Horizontal Network formed by the Single Cooperative and, c) Business Network trained by the Association of Cooperatives. These networks represent 49 cooperatives and cover 18,253 farming families. The intercooperative relationship used as a strategy to access these markets was propelling by the public policies envolved (PAA and PNAE).