Ufac research on Amazon cooperativism showcased at national congress

Professor Luci Maria Teston of the Universidade Federal do Acre (Ufac) presented two studies on Amazonian cooperativism at a joint national congress organized by the Sociedade Brasileira de Economia, Administração e Sociologia Rural (SOBER) and the International Rural Sociology Association (IRSA). In collaboration with Valdemiro Rocha, president of the Sistema OCB/AC, the papers—“Between Pressures and Resistances: Challenges of Extractivist Cooperativism in the Amazon” and “Cooperativism and sociobioeconomics in the Amazon” (focusing on the native rubber chain)—examined the economic, environmental and social pressures facing forest‑based cooperatives and highlighted their capacity for resilience, market access and sustainable income generation. The research emphasized the role of cooperatives in advancing a development model that aligns forest conservation with inclusive economic growth, aiming to inform public policies for the Amazon region.