UNION DE COOPERATIVAS ASOCIACION GALEGA DE COOPERATIVAS AGRARIAS

Their core work

AGACA is the Galician Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, a regional association representing farming cooperatives in northwestern Spain. They focus on helping rural cooperatives adopt renewable energy solutions, improve energy efficiency, and transition toward circular bioeconomy models. Their practical work bridges the gap between EU-funded innovation and on-the-ground implementation in agricultural cooperatives, particularly in dairy farming, grass-based value chains, and cooperative energy management.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2015–2017) centered on renewable energy financing for farms (RESFARM) and dairy sustainability (EuroDairy) — essentially helping cooperatives access existing solutions. By 2019, their focus shifted toward circular economy and biomass valorization through GO-GRASS, and they gained exposure to ICT-based energy diagnostics via SCOoPE. The trajectory shows a move from basic energy adoption toward more ambitious circular bioeconomy concepts integrating agriculture with energy and environment.

AGACA is moving from energy efficiency advocacy toward integrated circular bioeconomy models where agricultural cooperatives become both producers of food and bio-based materials.

How they like to work

AGACA never coordinates projects — they join as a participant or third party, acting as a channel to bring EU innovation to Galician agricultural cooperatives. With 72 unique partners across 17 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia typical of Coordination and Support Actions. This suggests they are valued as an end-user representative and rural dissemination partner rather than a research or technology leader.

Despite only 4 projects, AGACA has built connections with 72 partners across 17 countries, reflecting the large thematic networks and CSA consortia they join. Their geographic reach spans much of the EU, though their practical expertise is rooted in Galicia, Spain.

What sets them apart

AGACA offers direct access to a network of agricultural cooperatives in Galicia — a region with strong dairy and grassland farming traditions. For consortium builders, they provide something hard to find: a credible farmer-facing organization that can pilot and validate innovations at the cooperative level. Their combination of energy, dairy, and circular economy experience makes them a practical testbed partner for rural bioeconomy projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GO-GRASS
  Their largest grant (EUR 74,375) and most recent project, representing a strategic pivot toward circular bioeconomy with grass-based rural value chains running through 2024.
• SCOoPE
  Involved development of ICT diagnostic and dashboard tools for cooperative energy management — showing engagement with digital solutions beyond traditional agriculture.