The project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). Funding for this study was provided by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The project began in February 2019 and concluded in October 2019. The study focused on the following research questions:
- How many agriculture and food cooperatives operate in British Columbia?
- What business structures and models are employed by these cooperatives?
- What are the economic turnover and food system impacts of agriculture and food cooperatives in British Columbia?
- What advantages are realized through cooperative business structures?
- What are current challenges to agriculture and food cooperatives emanating from their business structure?
- What support structures and policies would be needed to ensure the continued operation of co-operatives’ and support co-operatives as a viable business model in BC?
The project involved creating a database of 72 contemporary agriculture and food cooperatives in BC. All 72 co-ops were contacted. 33 co-ops participated in the British Columbia Agriculture and Food Co-Operative Survey, from which 15 co-ops participated in in-depth interviews.