Special Section Number 2026/02: COOPERATIVES AND COOPERATIVISM IN THE OLIVE OIL SECTOR: HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES

2025-09-11

Special Section Number 2026/02: COOPERATIVES AND COOPERATIVISM IN THE OLIVE OIL SECTOR: HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES

Guest Editor: Ramon Ramon-Muñoz (Universitat de Barcelona)

 Introduction

While cooperative practices such as collective action and mutual-aid have long existed, the modern cooperative movement—including agricultural cooperatives—emerged in the mid-nineteenth century through initiatives like the Rochdale Pioneers in England and the Raiffeisen credit cooperatives in Germany. From these beginnings, cooperatives spread widely across Europe during the second half of the century and gradually extended to other parts of the world, although their pace of development has varied by region.

According to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), founded in 1895, there are currently over 3 million cooperatives worldwide, encompassing 1.2 billion members, which represents at least 12% of the global population. A significant proportion of these are agricultural cooperatives, which, in turn have achieved remarkable market shares in several countries and regions.

Despite their economic relevance, scholarly attention has not been evenly distributed across crops. In particular, olive oil cooperatives have received comparatively less attention, especially from a historical and long-run analytical perspective. This is surprising given their dominant role in production and trade. For instance, in the case of Spain, in 1930 olive oil occupied leading position in the export ranking and in 2010 cooperatives accounted for most of the national olive oil market share.

Topics and scope

To help address this gap, this Special Issue invites contributions that explore the development, role, and impact of cooperatives in the olive oil sector during the 20th and 21st centuries. We welcome papers covering any period within this timeframe, from any geographical area or territorial context, and addressing a wide range of topics, including:

  1. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the determinants of cooperative creation, development, or failure: Studies exploring why olive oil cooperatives emerge, grow, decline, or fail using historical, statistical, or case-based approaches. Focus may include internal governance and external market or policy conditions:
    1. Governance and internal organization of cooperatives: Research on how olive oil cooperatives are structured and governed, including leadership models, member participation, and decision-making processes. Contributions may explore democratic practices, transparency, accountability, and the role of cooperative statutes in shaping organizational behaviour and performance.
    2. Financial performance and sustainability of cooperatives: Contributions may analyse the financial health and long-term viability of cooperatives, including profitability, liquidity, access to credit, and investment strategies. Studies may also explore how cooperatives balance economic goals with social and environmental missions.
    3. Policy frameworks and institutional support: Analyses of the legal and policy environments that shape cooperative development. Research may focus on national and regional legislation, subsidies, incentives, and the role of public institutions in promoting or hindering cooperativism in the olive oil sector.
  2. Technology adoption within cooperatives: Research on how cooperatives integrate agricultural and digital technologies, and the factors that enable or hinder innovation. Includes impacts on productivity, profitability, and sustainability.
  3. Analyses of how cooperatives build brands, compete in markets, and develop pricing or export strategies: In examining brand-building, it may be particularly relevant to explore how cooperatives leverage local traditions and cultural narratives to differentiate their products. Consideration of consumer engagement strategies, including packaging and presentation, may also offer valuable insights.
  4. Economic and territorial impacts of cooperatives: Studies assessing cooperatives’ contributions to rural development. Includes effects on local economies, land use, and community resilience.
  5. Oleotourism: Research on tourism initiatives led by cooperatives, such as tastings, tours, and cultural events. Focus on economic diversification, heritage promotion, and consumer connection. It is also be relevant to assess the extent to which these initiatives have influenced rural development.
  6. Cooperative networks and inter-cooperative collaboration. Studies may examine how cooperatives form alliances, federations, or second-tier organizations to achieve economies of scale, enhance bargaining power, or share resources. This includes both formal and informal networks, and their role in innovation, market access, and policy influence.
  7. Crisis management and resilience. How cooperatives respond to external shocks such as economic downturns, pandemics, or climate-related events. Studies may examine risk management strategies, adaptive capacity, and the role of cooperative structures in ensuring continuity and recovery.
  8. Environmental practices and sustainability in olive oil cooperatives: Studies may explore how cooperatives adopt sustainable farming practices, manage natural resources, and respond to environmental challenges. Topics may include organic production, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation strategies, and participation in sustainability certification schemes.
  9. Age structure of cooperatives: Studies examining the generational composition of cooperative membership and leadership, including youth involvement, aging member bases, and succession challenges. Research may explore how age dynamics affect innovation, governance, and long-term sustainability.
  10. Gender roles and inclusion in cooperatives: Research may address barriers to inclusion, such as the participation and representation of women, within olive oil cooperatives, strategies for empowerment, and the impact of inclusive practices on cooperative performance and community development.
  11. Comparative studies across regions or countries. Contributions may offer cross-national or cross-regional comparisons of cooperative models, performance, and trajectories. These studies can highlight patterns, divergences, and best practices, providing insights into how different contexts shape cooperative success and challenges.

(Ramon Ramon-Muñoz, Barcelona, July 2025)

Important Dates and Information

  • Manuscript Submission Deadline: 1 March 2026 (23:59 h CET)
  • Publication Window: 15–31 July 2026 (subject to acceptance following an initial internal evaluation, which may result in desk rejection; if not, the manuscript will proceed to external peer review): 15–31 July 2026
  • Submission: https://revistaselectronicas.ujaen.es/index.php/REE/about/submissions

Others

Keywords: Cooperatives, cooperativism, olive oil

Language: English and Spanish

Length and other requirements: Details regarding manuscript length and submission requirements are available on the journal’s website.