ABSTRACT
The Unions of Agricultural Cooperatives (UAC) of Greece constitute a particular category of industrial enterprises that represent the interests of an important portion of producers of agricultural products in Greece. Their role is important because together with the robust and effective small and medium size enterprises, they constitute the sole power that can oppose the monopoly power developed by the big enterprises at the level of manufacturing as well as the level of raw materials and standardised end products in the retail trade. However, their economic situation as in all smallholder participation in the global supply chain, presents several problems associated with their external competitiveness in the market and their internal efficiency. For this reason, we try to investigate how networks, which play an increasingly important role in providing access to markets for producers in developing countries, could raise the competitiveness of agricultural cooperatives, and if it is possible to become a solution for the Greek cooperatives and the producers that are behind them. In addition, this paper aims to pull together the key conditions that underpin successful collective action amongst agrifood cooperatives and small and medium enterprises.
