Copiso has regained the number of members it had twenty years ago. The first positive sign came in the 2017 annual balance sheet (celebrating the cooperative’s 50th anniversary). That year, the trend of losing members changed and the year ended with four more members than the previous year, going from 1,212 to 1,216. Now, the figure stands at 1,375, which means that the number of members has already surpassed that of 2003. The lowest point was reached in 2016, when the number fell to 1,212, far from the 1,811 in 1970 or, more recently, the 1,369 in 2003.
The recognition of Copiso as a priority regional association has facilitated the arrival of new young members, who have preferential access—and better conditions—to subsidies and grants to join the primary sector. The cooperative’s Governing Council is working to attract young professionals and incorporate women into agricultural activity. In 2024, only 28 of the 1,356 members were under 40 (2%), and 136 were women (10%).
The aging of the sector, low profitability, and the high investments required are some of the reasons that hinder the necessary generational change in agriculture and livestock farming.
In an industry with so many uncertainties and ups and downs, young farmers and ranchers value the support and peace of mind that Copiso provides, with sound advice on managing their farms or ranches, facilitating the purchase of supplies, and optimizing the marketing of their products. In short, “we want to be the driving force that young men and women need to decide to stay in the countryside and in the villages,” emphasizes managing director Pascual López.
Copiso is an important social force in the province of Soria. In addition to its 1,375 members, it is also a major employer, providing more than 2,000 jobs, including a staff of 175 employees, direct jobs on the farms it manages, and indirect jobs in the cooperative’s environment.