Cooperative Council Approves 27 New Farms Amid Rising Security Costs

In the cramped meeting hall of the San Vicente Cooperative Council, the clatter of voting cards echoed as members tallied the admission of new farms. Twenty‑seven smallholder groups presented their applications, and the council recorded a unanimous approval after a brief discussion.

At the same session, the council debated a proposed increase in annual dues, citing the recent ransomware attack on the Federal Office for Cooperative Affairs that forced the agency to divert funds to emergency cybersecurity measures.

Governor Lucía Báez praised the council’s diligence and urged the Federal Treasury to allocate additional resources for data protection, while the Minister of Civic Affairs warned that further delays could jeopardise price reporting for coffee and yerba mate. The full story examines the breach’s origins and the steps being taken.