Cooperatives and community networks for enhancing ecosystem services in agri-food systems

Abstract

Cooperatives and community networks strengthen ecosystem services and promote sustainable agri-food systems. Within the TEEBAgriFood framework, they act as enabling mechanisms that mobilise social and human capital to improve the management of natural capital. Collective actions such as soil and water management, biodiversity conservation, agroforestry, crop diversification,
pollinator-friendly practices, and residue recycling generate ecosystem services including nutrient cycling, water regulation, pollination, habitat provision, pest regulation, and climate regulation. Cooperatives also facilitate collective input procurement, knowledge sharing, technology access, sustainable marketing, and resource-use efficiency. Thus, integrating cooperative approaches into TEEBAgriFood assessments helps capture interactions among natural, social, human, and produced capital and their contributions to ecosystem services, livelihoods, and resilience.