[PhD student] Chimène Békanty Kouassi: Cooperatives: a way towards the digital transition of agriculture?

Cooperatives: a way towards the digital transition of agriculture?

I hold an engineering degree in Agronomy with a specialization in Agricultural Economics and Management. I am also in the process of obtaining a Master's degree in Agricultural Development and Environmental Economics.
The central question of this thesis is: What role do cooperatives play in the digital transition of agriculture? What models of agriculture do agricultural cooperatives promote through their digital choices?
Following this thesis, I plan to put my skills as a researcher at the service of a research structure or institution dealing with issues relating to agricultural development and innovation, or to work as a consultant in agricultural management and innovation in companies.

• Starting date: 1st October 2021
• University : L'Institut Agro
• PhD school: EDEG
• Scientific field: Economics - Management sciences
• Thesis management: Leïla Temri, UMR Moisa, Institut Agro
• Thesis supervisors: Louis-Antoine Saïsset, UMR Moisa, Institut Agro – Léo Garcia, UMR AbSyS, Institut Agro – Léo Pichon, UMR Itap, Institut Agro
• Financement : #DigitAg – Institut Agro 
• #DigitAg : Cofunded thesis – Axe 1 : Impact des technologies de l’information et de la communication sur le monde rural, Axe 2 : Innovations en agriculture numérique, Challenge 1 : Le challenge agroécologique

Mots-clés : Agricultural cooperatives- digital transition- agro-ecology-innovation -Governance

Résumé : Digital tools have been developing in agriculture for several years. Some authors see it as a way to support its Agroecological Transition. However, the compatibility between some digital tools and agro¬ ecological approaches is still debated. On the other hand, in France, cooperatives represent an important part of the agricultural and agri-food activity. At the national level,75% of farmers (90% in Occitanie) depend on a cooperative, making these structures key players in the digital transition. They are characterized by a great diversity of sizes and structures, despite a trend towards concentration. The central question of this thesis is the following: which models of agriculture do agricultural cooperatives promote through their digital choices? lt can be divided into two sub-questions: 1) What factors influence the choice of digital tools in agricultural cooperatives: size? sector? governance? Particular focus will be paid to the latter factor. 2) What models of agriculture do these choices promote: agro-ecological? agricultural Intensification ? precision agriculture? labels (HVE, AB …)? From a theoretical point of view, several fields will be mobilized: theories of innovation, governance theories. Thus, the question of the representation of cooperatives actors of the digital transition, intermediaries between the upstream and downstream sectors will be raised, as well as the three dimensions of cooperatives governance. From a methodological point of view, two important regional sectors will be targeted: wine and fruit and vegetables. The characterization of production systems and agricultural practices will be based on the agronomy and agroecology work of the UMR ABSys "Agrosystèmes biodiversifiés".

Contact :angechimenekouassi [AT] gmail.com​ - Tel : 06.82.72.16.24

Social network: LinkedIn