The role of cooperatives in the sustainable development of rural areas

Relevance. While the sustainable development goals are an indispensable component of various rural development programs, some of them are so important today that they are included in institutional documents as criteria for assessing the success and dynamics of ongoing changes. However, many issues of economic, social and environmental sustainability within the boundaries of rural space remain open to scientific research and practical application. of particular interest in this regard is the role and capabilities of local economic units (including rural cooperatives) in the implementation of the goals formulated by the international community (especially those related to ecology and climate), changing the methods and tools of local development, they carry out in an updated external and internal context. It is these questions that are the focus of this study, which is undertaken with a direct focus on agricultural cooperatives and local communities. 

Methods. In conditions when cooperation has not received proper distribution in the Russian environment, but has positive development results in other countries of the world, the study of such experience, its analysis and generalization is the main method of the undertaken research. The theoretical construction of the work is based on the key postulates of the traditional cooperative theory and its modern conclusions. Predictive generalizations regarding the potential of cooperation in achieving sustainability in the domestic environment are built on the basis of existing best practices for the creation and functioning of cooperatives in the international space, taking into account modern challenges and threats of a biological, climatic and geopolitical nature. 

Results. The main conclusion is that it is the unique cooperative identity, specific principles of organization and functioning, flexibility and adaptability of the internal structure that allow cooperatives, effectively using local resources, to actively participate in achieving sustainability goals, providing solutions to many economic, social and environmental problems in rural areas. 

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