Participants: 8 Holland-based entrepreneurs from Moroccan origin
Objective: to learn from Spanish agricultural cooperatives (coop), as part of an analysis for an investment in sustainable agriculture in Morocco.
Cooperatives appear to be significantly less affected by the European economic crisis that started in 2008; as the crisis progressed, the cooperative phenomena increasingly drew media attention.
Puerta de Madrid
A group of entrepreneurs decided to find out about it for themselves.
Bismillah.EU set up a meeting with the Coordinator for European Affairs of an agricultural body that represents cooperatives in Spain.
Cooperatives were selected according to criteria agreed by the group.
Among them were olive oil producers, a cheese manufacturer and a canned food producer. Criteria also involved were production capacity and some of them being certified organic.
Bismillah.EU then organized an all-inclusive tour of 10 days to cover extensive visits to the cooperatives.
Agricultural production cooperatives are legal entities that are controlled by farmers who also act as its associated members. The cooperative pools the farmer's resources, such as machinery, for mutual benefit. Its members farm jointly. Its economic benefits are distributed proportionally to each member's level of participation in the cooperative.
The Tour Group
Olive Tree
These visits included interviews with its members and the current board, as well as a guided explanation of the full production process.
In addition we evaluated the farm land, the end product, the distribution channels involved and international market profiles.
Also part of the program was an interview with the mayor of a town that largely depends on the production of olive oil through the cooperative concept.
The group was received at Madrid Airport upon arrival.
The next day we travelled from Madrid to Toledo, Castilla La-Mancha to Córdoba, Granada and Madrinalena, ending the tour at Malaga airport for their flight back to Holland.
On the way we visited 4 cooperatives, including some of the larger ones in the area.
Machinery to process harvested olives
Olive oil stored in silos
The interview session was held in the mayor's office, where she took ample time to share her knowledge and experience.
Although the tour was primarily work-related, it could be combined with visits to Islamic heritage sites.
For example, we enjoyed a guided tour to the city of Madrid, had a lunch break in Toledo, visited the Grand Masjid in Córdoba and enjoyed a guided tour to the Alhambra citadel, palaces and gardens.
In Granada we visited the Albaycín Kasabah. We had our prayers in Masjid Granada.
Spain is the world’s #1 exporter of olive oil. The country exports olive oil to more than 100 countries worldwide. Olive oil is known for its numerous benefits for health. For example, olive oil is rich in vitamins A, E, D and K.
