Return of the (entrepreneurial) co-operative.

Co-operatives are important organisational forms assumed to be risk averse and lacking foresight and capabilities to add value. New generation coops challenge these assumptions but the picture of innovation and entrepreneurship in them is incomplete. Our exploratory case studies of producer co-ops suggests the use of science-informed growth strategies, quite sophisticated governance mechanisms that utilise co-op ownership structures and voting rights, and broad education activities that have economic and social benefit for the co-ops, its member firms, and the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]