Farmer cooperation in agricultural cooperatives is no longer an emerging trend in Romania—it is becoming an economic necessity, proven by concrete results.

The top 20 agricultural cooperatives in Romania generated a combined turnover of RON 1.7 billion in 2024, nearly double compared to RON 933 million in 2020, according to data from Ziarul Financiar. All cooperatives in the ranking ended the year with a profit, with a total net result of RON 21.3 million and 730 employees. The most profitable was Barsa Prod 2012 Agricultural Cooperative in Prahova County, with a profit of RON 3.5 million.

The economic logic of cooperation is clear and validated in practice. By centralizing the purchase of inputs—seeds, fertilizers, fuel—cooperatives obtain lower prices than individual farmers. By jointly marketing their production, they eliminate intermediaries and negotiate directly with processors and modern retail chains. Carrefour Romania, for example, has partnered with six new agricultural cooperatives from Fierbinți, Beiuș, Ostrov, Târgu Secuiesc, Huși, and Voinești, integrating them into its local supplier network under the “Grădina Noastră” label. This model demonstrates that cooperation is not only about production, but also about accessing markets that would otherwise remain out of reach for small farmers.

The fiscal framework supports the cooperative model. According to Law no. 566/2004 on agricultural cooperation, cooperatives benefit from corporate tax exemptions for income derived from members’ agricultural activities, while cooperative members themselves may benefit from reduced income tax. The updated guide published in August 2025 by the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives details the procedures for accessing these fiscal advantages, which remain underutilized by eligible farmers.

The sector’s growth potential is significant. Romania needs authentic cooperatives—not just entities established on paper to access funding, but organizations that generate real added value for their members. The Romanian Center for European Policies, in its 2024 report, recommends continuing fiscal incentives, expanding access to European funds for the development of short food supply chains, and integrating cooperatives into the national agricultural knowledge and innovation system.

The direction is clear—the pace of implementation remains the main challenge.

(Photo: Magnific)