In February the Berlin Institute for Cooperative Studies (BICS) hosted a full-week training programme in the framework of the Erasmus+ Project Good Marketing and Branding Practices in Agricultural Cooperatives for representatives of 30 Romanian crop cooperatives. The programme combined academic input with hands-on learning and field visits, creating a rich exchange between research and practice.

The training opened at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin with expert lectures on the German agricultural cooperative system by Dr. Volker Petersen (German Raiffeisen Federation) and European and international grain markets by Guido Seedler (German Raiffeisen Federation). In addition, Lea Fließ (Forum Moderne Landwirtschaft) provided valuable insights into communication strategies and dialogue between the agricultural sector and society. Interactive workshops coordinated by Prof. Dr. Markus Hanisch, Prof. Dr Marcel Robischon and Dr. Agustina Malvido focused on the role of cooperatives as value chain actors and on practical marketing and branding strategies along the agri-food chain.

A central element of the programme were study visits to agricultural cooperatives in Brandenburg, including AGRAVIS Ost Fürstenwalde, Unterspreewald eG (Dürrenhofer), Spreetal eG, Agrargenossenschaft Uckro eG and Biokräuterei eG. Participants gained insights into different business and marketing models, ranging from contract sales and logistics services to regional branding, direct marketing, organic production and community-supported agriculture.

The exchange was characterised by an open and engaged learning atmosphere. German cooperatives shared their experiences and challenges in detail, while the Romanian participants contributed diverse perspectives from their own cooperative practices. The programme highlighted the value of peer learning and international cooperation for strengthening cooperative value chains and marketing capacities.With this Erasmus+ training, BICS further strengthened its role as a facilitator for international knowledge exchange on cooperative development and sustainable agri-food systems.