The role of agricultural cooperatives in the absortive capacity process of associated rural producers

Abstract

Our study aimed to understand how the absorptive capacity (AC) process occurs in rural producer firms associated with cooperatives. This is a case study, carried out with six rural producers from a cooperative in the agricultural sector in the State of Santa Catarina. Data collection took place through in-depth interviews. To analyze the data, content analysis was used from the four dimensions of AC, proposed by Zahra and George (2002). The data showed that rural producers seek knowledge autonomously and via cooperatives. As for assimilation, rural producers assimilate external information in order to adapt and apply it to their properties both autonomously and with the help of the cooperative. In the knowledge transformation process, we identified that producers have the habit of discussing market trends with the cooperative’s partner companies, with the technical department and in the technological committee that was created to discuss trends. Regarding the knowledge exploration category, it was found that respondents pursue the use of technology, especially the use of software and equipment. They argue that the information generated by the software helps in decision making, as they make it possible to analyze the performance of the planted area, optimizing resources, with the aim of minimizing costs, improving productivity and increasing profitability. Finally, our study shows that knowledge absorbed via cooperatives is more quickly assimilated and better exploited, facilitating the adoption of innovations.