Claviceps purpurea is a fungal ascomycete that infects grass species including cereal crops. The pathogen colonizes the inflorescence and forms a black elongated ergot body (sclerotium) in place of the seed. (Berraies,Samia and Walkowiak,Sean and Buchwaldt,Lone and Menzies,James G., planthealthcases.2023.0004, Plant Health Cases, doi:10.1079/planthealthcases.2023.0004, CABI International, Ergot (Claviceps spp.) of Cereals in Western Canada, (2023))
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. (FAOLEX. 2025. Glossary https://www.fao.org/faolex/)
