Cooxupé case wins biggest academic competition in global agribusiness
A case study on Cooxupé (Regional Cooperative of Coffee Growers in Guaxupé) was chosen as the best academic work presented during the 2026 edition of the IFAMA World Conference, one of the main international forums dedicated to agribusiness.
The announcement was made during the conference's gala dinner, held in Cork, Ireland. The work, developed by the Harven Agribusiness School, won a competition that brought together more than 30 case studies presented by institutions from different countries, including Harvard University, in the United States.
The award-winning case analyzes the challenges faced by Cooxupé and the strategies adopted by the cooperative to grow in an environment marked by price volatility, climate risks and changes in the international coffee market.
Signed by researchers Vinícius Cambaúva, Marcos Fava Neves and Rafael Barros Rosalino, the study addresses topics such as cooperative governance, operating models, risk management and value generation for associated producers.
"We are very proud to seek this title in Ireland", celebrated professor Fava Neves.
Largest coffee cooperative in the world
Founded in 1932, Cooxupé brings together more than 20 thousand members and is considered the largest coffee growers' cooperative in the world.
The organization accounts for around 17% of Brazilian coffee production and approximately a quarter of the harvest in Minas Gerais, the country's main producing state. In addition to the domestic market, it exports coffee to more than 50 countries.
The cooperative is often cited as a reference in technical assistance, marketing, storage, access to credit and support for producers, factors that contributed to its consolidation as one of the main organizations in Brazilian agribusiness.
International recognition
The award ceremony took place during the IFAMA World Conference 2026, a meeting that brought together approximately 400 participants from 40 countries, including researchers, executives, representatives of companies, cooperatives and universities.
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In addition to recognizing the academic quality of the work, the award highlights the leading role of Brazilian cooperativism and the coffee sector in one of the main international stages for discussion about management, innovation and sustainability in agribusiness.
According to the organizers, the case studies presented at the congress aim to bring together theory and practice, serving as a teaching tool for administration, economics and agribusiness management courses at universities around the world.
With this achievement, the Cooxupé case becomes part of the group of reference studies recognized by IFAMA and can be used in training programs for executives and agribusiness leaders.
Source: CNN