∷ Beijing Yifang Foundation → Social enterprise [Research] → 2020
• A Study on the Organizational Development and Performance Management of Agricultural Cooperative Social Enterprises
Partner Organization: Beijing Normal University - School of Social Development and Public Policy
Project Duration: Jan 2020 – Dec 2022
Project Status: Going on
In the international academic community for social enterprises, cooperatives are widely accepted as a typical type of social enterprise. Europe and the United States of America have a long history of agricultural cooperatives, dating back more than one hundred years. Development has become an important force in promoting agricultural revitalization, rural development and improving farmer well-being. In the current legal environment in China, agricultural cooperatives are the only form of social enterprise with special legislation. As an important driver of development, agricultural cooperatives are essential for improved agricultural management, ultimately lifting farmers in China out of poverty.
The foundation worked with Associate Professor Yu Xiaomin of the School of Social Development and Public Policy at Beijing Normal University for this project. It built on existing research, across multiple disciplines like economics, sociology, public management etc. This was an empirical study, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis. Taking comparable international research as a starting point, the study then focused on the organizational development and performance management of local farmer cooperative social enterprises. Drawing on the experiences of international cooperative social enterprises, solutions were then tailor-made to meet the realistic needs of local agriculture, farmer and rural communities which created a revival of the agricultural industry, sustained development and social impact.