30
R. F. Barreiros et al.
small number of members, but the average size of the farms of these members is
larger compared with other cooperatives in Parana. The degree of homogeneity of
the membership is also high compared to other cooperatives in Parana. Agraria’s
members focus their activities on grain production, especially soybean and corn, as
summer crops and wheat and barley as winter crops. It is in winter crops that Agraria
and its members stand out compared to the rest of the state of Parana.
Agraria concentrates its agribusiness in the following areas:
(a) malting of barley for malt production;
(b) milling wheat for the production of wheat flour and wheat bran;
(c) soybean crushing for soybean oil and soybean meal production;
(d) industrialization of corn for the manufacture of feed and corn grits and flakes.
One feature that has highlighted Agraria nationally is the quality control of its
processes. Agraria has already received an award in the Sustainable Development
category, in the Cooperative Contest of the Year, promoted by the Brazilian Cooperative Organization—OCB. Additionally, participating in contests promoted by
Brazilian press agencies, Agraria has already received similar awards in other categories, as Social Responsibility and Professional Management; the best agribusiness
company in the grain category; and the best agribusiness company in the grain sector.
Since 2007, Agraria’s gross sales have exceeded one billion reais. In 2018 it
was three billion, five hundred and twenty-four thousand Reais, which amounted to
approximately one billion dollars. Agraria’s economic size makes it one of the most
relevant agribusiness companies in Brazil. Agraria was ranked 274th among the 1000
largest companies in Brazil, according to Valor 1000 magazine, and 74th among the
400 largest companies in Brazilian agribusiness, according to Exame magazine.
Agraria’s strategic formulation process begins with defining the cooperative’s
mission and future vision. Agraria’s mission is: “To develop, produce and sell agroindustrial products and services, adding value with appropriate technology and superior quality, seeking client satisfaction, and respecting the individual, the principles of
the cooperative movement, and the environment” (Agrária 2019b). Agraria’s vision
for the future is: “To be a national benchmark in agro-industrial production technology and cooperative management” (Agrária 2019b). Both Agraria’s mission and
future vision have their contents strongly linked to agro-industrialization, technology,
quality, market orientation, and cooperative management. The declared values of
Agraria are ethical attitude, quality, cooperation, tradition, and ownership sense.
The history of the organization of settlers from Europe, provided by Agraria, has
gone beyond the economic issue, also involving the social dimension, as the Cooperative promoted actions for the construction of houses and churches, the construction and maintenance of schools and hospitals, and encouraged the preservation of
Swabian culture and traditions.
Therefore, besides acting in the economic area, Agraria invests in social and
cultural activities in the Entre Rios Colony. The following entities receive support
from Agraria:
(a) Entre Rios Agricultural Education Association, founded in 1968, which gave
rise to the Imperatriz School, which offers comprehensive training for students,
R. F. Barreiros et al.
small number of members, but the average size of the farms of these members is
larger compared with other cooperatives in Parana. The degree of homogeneity of
the membership is also high compared to other cooperatives in Parana. Agraria’s
members focus their activities on grain production, especially soybean and corn, as
summer crops and wheat and barley as winter crops. It is in winter crops that Agraria
and its members stand out compared to the rest of the state of Parana.
Agraria concentrates its agribusiness in the following areas:
(a) malting of barley for malt production;
(b) milling wheat for the production of wheat flour and wheat bran;
(c) soybean crushing for soybean oil and soybean meal production;
(d) industrialization of corn for the manufacture of feed and corn grits and flakes.
One feature that has highlighted Agraria nationally is the quality control of its
processes. Agraria has already received an award in the Sustainable Development
category, in the Cooperative Contest of the Year, promoted by the Brazilian Cooperative Organization—OCB. Additionally, participating in contests promoted by
Brazilian press agencies, Agraria has already received similar awards in other categories, as Social Responsibility and Professional Management; the best agribusiness
company in the grain category; and the best agribusiness company in the grain sector.
Since 2007, Agraria’s gross sales have exceeded one billion reais. In 2018 it
was three billion, five hundred and twenty-four thousand Reais, which amounted to
approximately one billion dollars. Agraria’s economic size makes it one of the most
relevant agribusiness companies in Brazil. Agraria was ranked 274th among the 1000
largest companies in Brazil, according to Valor 1000 magazine, and 74th among the
400 largest companies in Brazilian agribusiness, according to Exame magazine.
Agraria’s strategic formulation process begins with defining the cooperative’s
mission and future vision. Agraria’s mission is: “To develop, produce and sell agroindustrial products and services, adding value with appropriate technology and superior quality, seeking client satisfaction, and respecting the individual, the principles of
the cooperative movement, and the environment” (Agrária 2019b). Agraria’s vision
for the future is: “To be a national benchmark in agro-industrial production technology and cooperative management” (Agrária 2019b). Both Agraria’s mission and
future vision have their contents strongly linked to agro-industrialization, technology,
quality, market orientation, and cooperative management. The declared values of
Agraria are ethical attitude, quality, cooperation, tradition, and ownership sense.
The history of the organization of settlers from Europe, provided by Agraria, has
gone beyond the economic issue, also involving the social dimension, as the Cooperative promoted actions for the construction of houses and churches, the construction and maintenance of schools and hospitals, and encouraged the preservation of
Swabian culture and traditions.
Therefore, besides acting in the economic area, Agraria invests in social and
cultural activities in the Entre Rios Colony. The following entities receive support
from Agraria:
(a) Entre Rios Agricultural Education Association, founded in 1968, which gave
rise to the Imperatriz School, which offers comprehensive training for students,