Currently, a large number of Antioquia pork producers work independently and with little integration in their value chain, which keep them off from having a better management from the purchase of their raw materials to the commercialization of their product to the final consumer, focusing only in the productive economy, that is, in producing kilograms of live hogs without getting greater added value that allows them to be competitive and more profitable. This study aimed to identify the conditions that allow developing associative models in the primary production of the pork chain of Antioquia as a tool to generate competitive advantage. For this, we proceeded to identify the motivations and barriers to cooperate in the studied population, the weaknesses and strengths of the population's value chain, the different dimensions in which it could cooperate, the opportunities and threats presented by the environment and the most viable associative model according to the features of the sector and the region. Consequently, the analysis focused on a diagnosis of the value chain of the pork producers as well as the external factors of the environment in order to identify associative opportunities based on the PESTEL model. In addition, it was performed a literature research of studies about strategic direction of pork-producers’ companies, production and value chains in the field of agri-food, added value in products of agricultural origin, business networks in the Andean region, among others. Also, theoretical aspects about strategy were investigated (competitive model, value chain, vertical integration and added value) as well as cooperation (competence, levels of integration and models of associativity). The methodology of this research was based on a qualitative approach under a type of inductive thinking and collection techniques based on semi-structured interviews with a group of Antioquia pork producers that responded to specific selection criteria. The results showed that the sample of pork producers recognize the associative models as a tool to improve their competitiveness and face better the threats and opportunities that the environment brings, as well as minimize the weaknesses and enhance the strengths they have in their value chain. For this, certain flaws were identified in which work must be done to make these models viable, as well as dimensions in which there is the potential to cooperate. As a result, a model of associativity among pork producers based on the networking of companies emerged as an opportunity, which will allow cooperation in the short term, taking advantage of the opportunities and strengths that already exist among the pork producers that were part of the study.
