A united cooperative
Agropur is owned by its members: dairy farmers who have joined forces in order to take control of their future and process the products of their labours. Our members are located in five Canadian provinces and each member has one vote, regardless of the size of their farm.
The pandemic hasn't stopped our members from actively contributing to Agropur's success by regularly sharing their views with the Cooperative's directors and management team. In fact, we've held 28 webinars and several hybrid meetings for members over the past year.
Putting our heads together
Agropur organized a major strategic consultation that started in the spring of 2021 and ended in the fall. During this important exercise, members confirmed their commitment to our cooperative values. They shared their pride in being dairy farmers, processors and owners of a cooperative whose activities span from farm to table.
The discussions focused on issues that will be key in shaping Agropur's future. First, members said they were open to expanding membership under certain conditions. Then they underscored the critical importance of keeping debt at a healthy level and under control. Members also recognized that ongoing investments are needed to position the Cooperative for growth. Finally, they indicated that even though patronage dividends are important, they are not their most pressing priority. For most members, protecting the Cooperative's long-term viability takes precedence over short-term financial gains.
Our members and sustainable development
Our members know they have an important role to play in sustainable development. They want Agropur to work with industry stakeholders to strengthen existing programs. They're also open to new initiatives, interested in receiving support from the Cooperative and are keen to learn more about the expectations of business partners and consumers. Members have also expressed interest in sharing more of their stories—especially those about sustainable farming practices—with the public.
Agropur is committed to supporting its members and offers them a series of training sessions every year. In 2021, we once again offered animal welfare training and educational modules for Spanish-speaking farm workers (FIATÉ). Approximately 100 people took the courses. To help members gain a better understanding of market expectations, the Cooperative also produced short videos featuring five of our in-house experts specializing in sustainable development, animal welfare, consumer insights and motivations, and the dairy industry.
Our champions
Every year, Agropur holds its Club of Excellence competition to celebrate the exceptional work carried out by its milk quality "champions." In 2021, the top honours went to Morine Farm from Coaticook, Quebec.
Animal welfare, a priority
This year we also introduced the Animal Welfare Award to highlight the remarkable efforts our members make to promote herd comfort and health. The award was presented to the family that runs Pittet Farm in Saint-Tite, Quebec, at the 2021 Annual General Meeting.
