The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system

The transition towards sustainable food systems has become a relevant global objective, and agriculture has been recognized as key actors in this transition. In Finland, co-operatives have central role in food production, yet their potential to drive the transition has remained unexplored. The main...

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Main Author: Jokila, Jenna
Other Authors: Jyväskylän yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu, Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, Jyväskylän yliopisto, University of Jyväskylä
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/103435
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author Jokila, Jenna
author2 Jyväskylän yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä
author_facet Jokila, Jenna Jyväskylän yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä Jokila, Jenna Jyväskylän yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä
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description The transition towards sustainable food systems has become a relevant global objective, and agriculture has been recognized as key actors in this transition. In Finland, co-operatives have central role in food production, yet their potential to drive the transition has remained unexplored. The main objective of this thesis is to research what factors impact the role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system, with a focus on organizational and operational environment factors. The research aims to gain insights and perspectives of co-operative leaders and experts and how they perceive these factors. To gain these insights, a qualitative study was conducted using thematic interviews that were later analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings indicate that co-operatives have multiple organizational advantages, such as financial resilience, long-term strategy, dual nature and co-operative identity. However, tensions among member-owners and influence of subsidiaries can constrain their abilities to uphold co-operative values in practice. Simultaneously, operational environmental factors challenge co-operatives as they face fragmented policies, market pressures dominated by cost-driven retail and consumer logic, diverse farming conditions and global crises. Despite these constraints, co-operatives show potential to drive sustainable food systems, if supported by coherent policy, fair market structures, and internal commitment. Siirtymä kohti kestävämpiä ruokajärjestelmiä on noussut merkittäväksi maailmanlaajuiseksi tavoitteeksi, ja maataloutta pidetään yhtenä keskeisenä tekijänä tässä muutoksessa. Osuuskunnilla on keskeinen rooli Suomessa, mutta niiden potentiaalia siirtymän edistäjinä ei ole juurikaan tutkittu. Tämän tutkielman tavoitteena on tutkia mitkä organisaatioon ja toimintaympäristöön liittyvät tekijät vaikuttavat osuuskuntien rooliin siirtymässä kohti kestävää ruokajärjestelmää. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää millaisia näkemyksiä osuuskuntien johtajilla ja asiantuntijoilla on eri tekijöistä. Näkemyksien kartoittaminen toteutettiin laadullisen tutkimuksen avulla, jossa hyödynnettiin teemahaastatteluja ja aineisto analysoitiin refleksiivisellä temaattisella analyysilla. Tulokset osoittivat, että osuuskunnilla on useita organisaatioon liittyviä vahvuuksia, kuten taloudellinen vakavaraisuus, pitkän aikavälin strateginen ajattelu, kaksoisluonne, sekä osuustoiminnallinen identiteetti. Toisaalta jännitteet jäsenomistajien välillä sekä tytäryhtiöiden vaikutus voivat rajoittaa osuuskuntien kykyä toteuttaa arvojaan käytännössä. Samanaikaisesti toimintaympäristön haasteet vaikeuttavat osuuskuntien toimintaa, kuten hajanaiset politiikat, vähittäiskaupan ja kuluttajien kustannuslähtöinen ajattelu, vaihtelevat viljelyolosuhteet ja globaalit kriisit. Haasteista huolimatta osuuskunnilla on potentiaalia edistää kestäviä ruokajärjestelmiä, mikäli niitä tuetaan johdonmukaisella politiikalla ja oikeudenmukaisilla markkinarakenteilla.
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spellingShingle Jokila, Jenna The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system Master's Degree Programme in Corporate Environmental Management
title The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system
title_full The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system
title_fullStr The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system
title_full_unstemmed The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system
title_short The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system
title_sort role of co operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system
title_txtP The role of co-operatives in the transition towards a sustainable food system
topic Master's Degree Programme in Corporate Environmental Management
topic_facet Master's Degree Programme in Corporate Environmental Management
url https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/103435 http://www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202506115234
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