What is sustainable agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture provides high quality food, from a high quality environment. It maintains the character of the countryside, while securing an acceptable quality of life for the rural community. That’s why, energy saving and development of renewable energies development must be including in the Irish Agriculture, thanks to an Agri-Energy Co-Operative (AEC).

What is a Co Operative?

“A Co-Operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly –owned and democratically – controlled enterprise.”

• World wide some 725 million people are members of co–operatives.
• Co Operatives exist in many sectors including agriculture, forestry, banking, Information Technology.

What are the aim and the benefits of an energy self supply co-operative?

Energy self-supply co-operatives aim to promote and facilitate locally the development and use of renewable energy for the benefit of the co-operative members. The main purpose of the co-operative includes the following targets:

• To develop locally available renewable energy Resources by and for the co-operative members.
• To utilise secure local energy sources and lessen dependency on energy imports.
• To reduce the expenditure on energy (electricity and heating) sourced from outside the county/area and maintain the expenditure within the local community.

Beneficiaires of the Co-Operative

The benefits of the co-operative can profit a wide range of people who are members of the co-operative. Co-operatives can be established that are concerned with specific Renewable Energy Technologies or a wide range of RE technologies. For example in a co-operative specialising in using biomass as an energy source the following parties would benefit:

End user of biomass:

The end users of biomass be it blocks, chips or pellets, will have the following benefits.

• Contracted supply of blocks/ chips / pellets for a fixed term at an attractive price.
• Assistance in obtaining grant aid for purchasing of boilers.
• Access to independent expert advice when purchasing boilers.
• Access to trained installers recommended by the Co-operative.Access to trained maintenance Engineers.
• Opportunity to be involved in the Co-operatives activities by being a member of the Co-operative.

Grower of biomass:

• Direct sales to consumer i.e. Co-operative members who have biomass boilers
• Assistance in obtaining grants for growing biomass and equipment to harvest it.
• Opportunity to co-operate with other growers to share equipment and expertise.
• Opportunity to attend Training Courses and Seminars organised by the Co-operative.
• Opportunity to be involved in Co-operatives activities by being a member of the Co-operative.
  

Processor of biomass:

• Direct access to potential customers, i.e. Co-operative members who are growers of biomass.
• Opportunity to co-operate with other processors to share expertise and equipment.
• Assistance in obtaining grant aid for new equipment.
• Access to independent technical expertise.
• Opportunity to attend Training Courses and Seminars organised by the Co-operative.
• Opportunity to be involved in Co-operatives activities by being a member of the Co-operative

Equipment installers and Maintenance Engineers:

• Direct access to potential customer through Co-operative
• Access to Training Courses and Seminars organised by Co-operative
• Access to independent technical expertise
• Co-operative accreditation
• Opportunity to be involved in Co-operatives activities by being a member of the Co-operatives.
  

In summary, the energy self supply co-operative will benefit to the members by:

• Initially establishing a supply chain for biomass within the county/region.
• Will provide a market for the growers.A secure local supply of fuel for the end users.
• Installers of equipment will also benefit from being part of an organised supply chain and increasing their number of clients.
• Access to a network of persons with business and technical expertise in renewable energy technologies.
• Security of energy supply to co-operative members.
• Access to impartial information on the latest developments in these technologies.
• Access to training courses on these technologies (access to free manuals on renewable energy technologies).
• Provide an alternative farm income to the farmers

How do I set up a Co-Operative?

The Irish Co Operative Society (ICOS) offer specialist advice and assistance to groups who wish to set up a co operative. See www.icos.ie for details.

What are the values of Co-Operatives?

• Co-Operatives on the values based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.

The Co-Operative principles are guidelines by which Co-Ops put their values into practice.

1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence
5th Principle: Education, Training and Information.
6th Principle: Co-Operation among Co-Operatives
7th Principle: Concern for Community

Ref I.C.A. News, No 5/6 1995.

Are there different types of Co-Operatives?

There are a number of different types of Co-Operatives.

1. Consumer Co-Ops: owned and controlled by their customers.
2. Producer Co-Ops: owned and controlled by independent producers who use their Co-Op to help improve their own individual businesses.
3. Worker Co-Ops: owned by the people who work for them.
4. Community Co-Ops: owned and controlled by the Community.
5. Multi - User Co-Ops: owned by more than one group of users.