The Cooperative Advantage
See how cooperatives create value. Explore highlights from the Cooperative Impact Study, featuring the voices of 615 farmers in Latin America on livelihoods, resilience, and food security.
615 farmers' voices
Farmer perspectives from six cooperatives across four countries.
Cooperatives that change lives in Latin America
Rabo Foundation’s roots lie in cooperation. Rabobank itself was founded by farmers who came together to solve a shared problem: access to fair finance. More than a century later, that cooperative principle still guides our work with smallholder farmers worldwide. In Latin America, cooperatives play a central role in Rabo Foundation’s portfolio—connecting farmers to markets, knowledge, finance, and each other. But belief alone is not enough. To strengthen what works and improve where it matters most, we need to listen directly to farmers.
Farmers’ voices on cooperative value
That is why Rabo Foundation partnered with 60 Decibels to conduct an in‑depth impact study with 615 cooperative members across Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru. The study captures farmers’ lived experiences and measures how cooperative membership affects quality of life, farming practices, financial performance, climate resilience, and food security. The findings confirm what cooperative heritage suggests—but also provide clear evidence: strong cooperatives are a powerful pathway to resilience and sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
Highlights from the field
89%
of farmers say their quality of life improved
76%
feel more financially resilient through their cooperative
90%
of farmers improved their way of farming
What farmers told us: 6 ways cooperatives change lives
For more than half of farmers, the cooperative is their only link to the market
For many smallholder farmers, the cooperative is not simply a preferred partner but an essential one. Fifty‑eight percent of farmers say they would have no alternative buyer for their coffee or cocoa without their cooperative. Without collective organization, many farmers would struggle to participate in the market at all. Beyond buying crops, cooperatives provide a wide range of services. Seventy‑one percent of farmers receive three or more services, and 79% access training and agricultural advice through their cooperative. Critically, 66% say they would lose access to agricultural knowledge if the cooperative were no longer available.
These findings highlight the role of cooperatives as entry points in rural areas where markets, advisory services, and financial institutions are often limited or absent.
Cooperatives play a central role in income stability
Income volatility is a constant risk for coffee and cocoa farmers. In this study, 53% of farmers report earning all or almost all of their household income through their cooperative, and 55% sell all of their produce through it. Farmers frequently link this reliance to stability. Many say that stable prices are the main reason market volatility has not disrupted their production. Financial resilience is also strengthened: 76% of farmers report an improved ability to access emergency funds.
For households operating close to the margin, this predictability matters. Stable income enables farmers to plan ahead, manage risks, and continue investing in their farms.
Nearly nine out of ten farmers report better farming and improved quality of life
Improved farming practices are one of the most widely reported outcomes of cooperative membership. Eighty‑six percent of farmers say the way they farm has improved, and for 56% the change has been significant. These changes translate into tangible results. Eighty percent of farmers report higher production, often driven by better techniques rather than expanded land use. As productivity and quality improve, incomes rise: 86% of farmers report increased income.
These gains extend beyond the farm. 89% say their quality of life has improved, linking changes in farming to better living conditions, food security, and confidence about the future.
Eight out of ten farmers feel better prepared for future climate shocks
Climate shocks are now a common part of farming life. In this study alone, eight out of ten farmers experienced at least one climate-related shock in the past year, from erratic rainfall and droughts to pests and plant diseases. These events threaten not only harvests, but farmers’ ability to plan and invest for the future.
Against this backdrop, cooperatives are helping farmers feel less exposed and more prepared. Among those who experienced climate shocks, 78% say they feel better prepared for future events because of their cooperative. Farmers consistently link this preparedness to concrete support: training on climate-smart practices, advice on pest and disease management, and regular monitoring visits to their farms.
What matters most is not eliminating risk, farmers explain, but knowing how to respond when conditions change. Skills, shared learning, and access to trusted advice turn uncertainty into something manageable — strengthening both confidence and resilience.
Women farmers report stronger gains across key impact areas
Women represent 22% of cooperative members in this study, yet they consistently report stronger outcomes than men. Forty‑nine percent of women report major improvements in quality of life, compared with 44% of men. Women also report greater gains in resilience: 51% report strong improvements in financial resilience, compared with 39% of men, while 53% report major gains in financial decision‑making, compared with 35% of men.
These findings suggest that when women gain access to cooperative services and decision‑making spaces, the benefits extend beyond income to confidence, agency, and influence within households and communities.
Farmers report high trust and satisfaction with cooperatives
Farmers’ overall experience of cooperatives is strongly positive. Levels of satisfaction and loyalty are high, placing the cooperatives in this study among the most trusted agricultural partners globally. Farmers overwhelmingly express a preference for cooperatives over other buyers or agribusinesses. They highlight not only economic benefits, but also transparency, fairness, and a sense of ownership and belonging.
This trust reflects long‑term relationships built on consistent support and shared interests – reinforcing cooperatives as enduring institutions within rural communities.
Bringing the findings to life
Data shows impact, but farmers’ voices explain why it matters. Watch the videos to hear how cooperatives improve farming, build climate resilience, and create stability for farmers and their families.
Turning insight into action
This study connects Rabo Foundation’s cooperative heritage with farmer‑validated evidence. By listening directly to farmers, it shows where cooperatives deliver the strongest gains in resilience and livelihoods. These insights are shaping how Rabo Foundation strengthens its support — and are shared back with cooperatives, so farmers’ voices guide trust, improvement, and lasting impact. By closing the loop between farmers, cooperatives, and investment decisions, this approach helps ensure cooperation continues to deliver meaningful change where it matters most.
About this study
This Cooperative Impact Study was conducted by 60 Decibels using its Lean Data methodology. It is based on 615 interviews with members of six Rabo Foundation supported cooperatives in Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru, carried out in October–November 2025.