Our impact

To improve opportunities for all Calabrians
GOEL needs to expand its reach and impact.

The GOEL community co-operative movement is registered in Italy as a non-profit social enterprise. It includes 13 social cooperatives, 2 agricultural cooperatives, 2 voluntary associations, 1 foundation and 32 predominantly agricultural enterprises. GOEL employs about 300 people directly, excluding external or temporary workers and consultants. Co-operative members now control more than 350 hectares of Calabrian farmland, more than half of that citrus and olive groves.

The value of aggregate production across the whole GOEL Group was around €10 million in 2022. Development plans are now being drawn up to transform GOEL into a €70 million a year organisation over the next decade with up to 2000 permanent employees.

Why we need to scale up

Over the past 20 years, GOEL has demonstrated that it can provide a safe and legitimate alternative to the mafia. It has also succeeded in gaining the trust and often the active support of the local community.

But to improve the rights and opportunities of all Calabrians and to permanently delegitimise ‘ndrangheta GOEL needs to expand its reach and impact.

The Group plans to become self-sustaining through growth in international sales. But in the early transition years, GOEL is seeking funding from social impact investors willing to support its campaign to protect human rights for all Calabrians and move the region closer to security and democratic legitimacy.