Agri-food groups encouraged to set up co-ops under society guidelines

Agri-food groups are to the fore among groups being encouraged to set up co-ops in a new ICOS guide and business planning template.

While the new Irish Co-operative Organisation Society guide encourages new co-ops in all sectors of the economy, the model has historically been most successful in agri-food groups.

The guide has been launched by Agriculture, Marine and Food Minister Simon Coveney to mark the start of the UN International Year of Co-operatives 2012, which is also being promoted in Ireland by ICOS.