Cooperatives of the Americas presented the preliminary results of the research on the evolution of the cooperative sector in the Americas between the International Years of Cooperatives (2012-2025), developed as part of the Coops4dev project.
The panel, which included the Launch day of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 In Uruguay, on February 20, it was moderated by Paula Arzadun, Head of Education, Training and Research at the Regional Office, and included interventions by Ricardo López and Myriam Báez Rojas, members of the Regional Committee of the Parties of the Allied Parties for the AIC 2025.
Speakers highlighted the importance of the cooperative movement's advocacy work in multilateral organizations, the need for favorable legislative environments for the development of cooperatives, and the relevance of making their impact visible at the local level.
Research and main findings
Researchers from the region shared valuable contributions to the Cooperatives of the Americas project. In their presentations, they analyzed various aspects of the evolution of cooperativism in the region, from regulatory frameworks and socioeconomic impact to the adoption of new technologies. The studies presented included regulatory analyses and case studies, providing an updated view on the advances and challenges of the cooperative sector.
The main characteristics of the works presented are detailed below:
- Evaluation of the regulatory framework of cooperativism in Paraguay, by Francisco Valle (CONPACOOP, Paraguay) He presented an analysis of the reforms implemented since 2012, highlighting both the advances that strengthened the sector and the challenges generated by tax changes. He highlighted Law No. 6999, which incorporated cooperative education into school programs, and the current challenges in regulation and financing.
- Evolution of cooperativism in Brazil by Eduardo Queiroz (OCB, Brazil) He presented an overview of Brazilian cooperativism, highlighting that it currently has more than 23 million members. He highlighted legislative advances, especially in worker cooperatives and environmental sustainability, and the implementation of the “SomosCoop” brand in 2017, aligned with the global cooperative identity.
- Using Big Data at the Argentine Workers’ Cooperative by Tiara Seibert (Workers’ Cooperative) shared an analysis on the implementation of Big Data in the Argentine consumer cooperative, demonstrating how data management has optimized decision-making and improved the organization's competitiveness in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- Emerging consumer cooperatives in Chile by Alejandro Marambio (University of Chile) presented collaborative-community projects in Chile, highlighting the case study of consumer cooperatives: Juntos Compremos, La Cacerola and La Minga, which operate at the community level and promote more equitable and sustainable production and consumption models.
Expert comments and conclusions
The panel included analysis by renowned experts in cooperativism. Dante Cracogna (Cooperative Law Commission) highlighted the importance of the normative content generated by these investigations. Sonja Novkovic (St. Mary's University, Canada) highlighted the value of consumer cooperatives, their bureaucratic challenges, their growth and how they face the challenge of being data-oriented organizations, while Efraín Quicaña (ILO Regional Office) highlighted how the big data It can improve efficiency and transparency in cooperative management, aligning with the ILO resolution on decent work in the social and solidarity economy, in addition to the challenges related to the formalization of employment.
The event concluded with the participation of cooperative development institutes, including IPACOOP of Panama.
In her closing remarks, Paula Arzadun reaffirmed the commitment of Cooperatives of the Americas to continue to make cooperatives visible and strengthen them in the region through research and the participation of its members.
La Research on the evolution of the cooperative sector in the Americas between the international years of cooperatives (2012 – 2025) is developed within the framework of the Coops4dev Project, co-financed by the European Union. The documents produced within the framework of this project are the exclusive responsibility of Cooperatives of the Americas and cannot in any way be considered to reflect the opinions of the European Union.
Cooperatives of the Americas launched its agenda for the International Year of Cooperatives
The panel “What has happened between the two international years of cooperatives – 2012 and 2025” is now presented. Myriam Báez Rojas and Ricardo López, members of the Regional Committee for AIC2025, introduce two thematic axes: Public policies and national laws, and new… pic.twitter.com/HUKHTbOn2X
— INACOOP Uruguay (@inacoop) February 20, 2025
