Abstract: Dairy cooperatives represent one of the most impactful models of collective economic organization in agriculture, empowering small-scale farmers, improving market access, and contributing to rural development. As global markets evolve and sustainability becomes imperative, dairy cooperatives must innovate in governance, financing, and digital transformation. This review synthesizes theoretical frameworks such as yardstick competition and countervailing power with insights from empirical studies, particularly from India and the United States. It highlights key practices in governance, member-driven equity financing, sustainability initiatives, and digital technologies such as blockchain and e-commerce. A case study of Karnataka Milk Federation illustrates successful cooperative strategies. The paper concludes by proposing a roadmap for future development, ensuring that dairy cooperatives remain resilient agents of sustainable agricultural growth. Keywords: Dairy cooperatives; Sustainable agriculture; Governance; Digital transformation; Financing; Rural development
Keywords: Sustainable agriculture; Governance; Digital transformation; Financing; Rural development.
Author: Bishwanath Gautam, Ankit Singh, Shivani Sinha
Reference: Arla Foods. (n.d.). Sustainability at Arla. Retrieved from https://www.arla.com DeVille, K. C., O’Connor, A. C., & Liebrand, C. B. (2009). Cooperative statistics, 2008 (USDA Rural Development Service Report No. 69). United States Department of Agriculture. Emelianoff, I. V. (1942). Economic theory of cooperation: Economic structure of cooperative organizations. Washington, D.C. Galbraith, J. K. (1956). American capitalism: The concept of countervailing power. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. (2009). The impact of globalization on the U.S. dairy industry: Threats, opportunities, and implications. Arlington, VA. Liebrand, C. B. (2010). Financial profile of dairy cooperatives, 2007 (USDA Rural Development Research Report No. 219). United States Department of Agriculture. Ling, K. C. (2011). Cooperative theory, practice, and financing: A dairy cooperative case study (USDA Rural Development Research Report No. 221). United States Department of Agriculture. National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). (n.d.). History of electric co-ops. Retrieved from https://www.electric.coop Nourse, E. G. (1922). The economic philosophy of cooperation. American Economic Review, 12(4), 577–597. Shaffer, J. D. (1987). Think
