Compliance In Agricultural Cooperatives and the Agro More Integrity Seal

Abstract

In view of the unfolding of the Weak Meat Operation, in 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA in Portuguese) developed the Agro More Integrity Seal, as a way of encouraging the implementation of integrity, ethics and sustainability programs in the agricultural sector, rewarding the adoption of high standard corporate governance measures. The relevance of this research is based on social concerns related to the integrity of agricultural societies and cooperatives, as well as their production and market performance. The present research seeks to answer whether obtaining the Agro More Integrity Seal can bring benefits to agricultural cooperatives. The objectives of the research are to study the themes of corporate governance, compliance and risk management, as well as cooperatives, their concept and their peculiarities, and, finally, to analyze the legislation relevant to the topic. This study is based on the hypothetical-deductive method of approach, starting from the hypothesis that it is possible to see benefits for cooperatives that seek to obtain the Agro More Integrity Seal. The qualitative technique is used, with an exploratory objective and bibliographic procedure, based on national doctrine and the legislative framework. In the end, it is concluded that obtaining the Agro More Integrity Seal, due to its requirements in the anti-corruption, labor and sustainability approaches, confers benefits to cooperatives, such as risk management, early identification and prevention of the commission of illicit acts, greater effectiveness of internal controls, as well as gaining a reputation in the market and improving the image with consumers.