ORGANIC GRAIN PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES IN LATVIA BY USING THE MOST APPROPRIATE COOPERATION MODEL

Abstract

The most significant challenges of organic farming are the fragmentation of the sector, unstable product supply and sales opportunities, as well as the lack of knowledge of how to manage agricultural production agronomically and economically effective. The predominant form of agricultural enterprises in Latvia is small and medium-sized farms. Thus, cooperation is an effective solution so that farmers can maintain the form of a family business and achieve an appropriate economic market, which would contribute to the possibility of sales and the value of the products produced. However, there are no fully organic and eligible grain cooperatives in Latvia in 2021. The research aim: to analyse factors affecting the needs of organic grain production through various alternatives to cooperation models. To achieve the aim, the following research methods were employed: logical construction, the graphical method, the monographic method, expert interviewing and factor ranking analysis. The research concluded that the factors influencing organic grain producer needs were most effectively implemented through the fully organic grain cooperative form � the normal distribution was 40.32. The weakest form of cooperation that provided opportunities for the development of organic grain production was mixed-type cooperatives, which combined both organic and conventional agricultural production. The normal distribution for mixed-type cooperatives was 25.00. The development of organic farming could be promoted by cooperation between organic producers. An organic single-product cooperative directly addresses the needs of organic producers � merging small and medium farms and providing appropriate infrastructure �, thus contributing to production consolidation and competitiveness.