Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta GA

Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense:

By:

Rafael Castillo

Title: Innovation intermediaries for inclusive development: the role of farmer cooperatives

April 23, 2015

09:00 AM

School of Public Policy

D.M. Smith Room 303

Committee:

Dr. Susan Cozzens (Chair) [1]

Dr. Juan Rogers [1]

Dr. Michael Hoffmann [1]

Dr. Kirk Bowman [2]

Dr. Barbara Lynch [2]

[1] School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology 

[2] School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology 

This dissertation defense is open – all faculty members and students are invited to attend the examination and participate in the discussion.  For further information, contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator, Georgia Tech School of Public Policy at (404) 894-0417; email: sppgrad@pubpolicy.gatech.edu. For a copy of the dissertation abstract or any questions please e-mail Rafael Castillo at rcm6@gatech.edu

Abstract

            Lack of capabilities, human and social, and opportunities of farmers impacts their ability to have choices and freedoms. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore and analyze the role of farmer cooperatives as innovation intermediaries in order to promote inclusive development. Cooperatives as innovation intermediaries could facilitate the creation of human and social capital, in a context of innovation for inclusive development, when the interactions between cooperatives and farmers are stable and interdependent, when cooperative’s network is diverse and have low density and when cooperatives promote active participation and representation of farmers. I will use a comparative case study of the coffee cooperatives in Peru in order to understand how the activities of the coffee cooperatives, their networks and dynamics of the relations with farmers affect the creation of capabilities and improve social, economic and political opportunities of farmers.