The research goal of this paper is to identify the possibility to transform the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards the concept of Creating Shared Value (CSV) in agribusiness. In the paper, both concepts are compared and the ways of their application are exemplified. A literature review and summative content analysis have been used to study CSR reports of four leading food companies in Poland. The study enabled the exemplification of good practices of shared value creation in the analysed agribusiness entities which publish information on their social impact. It concludes that the implementation of a new CSV approach is an important challenge for agribusiness companies. There are many areas where economic value can be augmented by new approach applications in agribusiness. Unfocused philanthropy, in the form of charitable donations and volunteering, should be replaced by the direct activity of companies aimed at solving social and environmental problems of agribusiness. Companies should make more effort towards shared value creation focused on reconceiving products and markets, redefining productivity in the value chain and building supportive agribusiness clusters. Some good practices presented in this study already are implemented. It contributes to identifying and gaining insight into the process of superseding CSR by the CSV approach in agribusiness, in Poland. This paper brings the discussion about social responsibility in agribusiness to a new level.

The study investigated the organisational resilience (OR) levels of rural non-profit organisations (RNPOs) in the areas of activity or non-activity to adapt under the global uncertainty conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, in April/May 2020, the managers of 35 RNPOs located in Poland were queried. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρS), the coefficient of determination (R2) and a transformation coefficient (d) were primarily used to verify the hypotheses and interpret the relationships studied. The study revealed four OR descriptive levels—progressive (PR), sustainable (SR), regressive (RR), and downward (DR). The findings also show that the undertaken activities are related to the OR descriptive levels. RNPOs realised one of two adaptations: passive adaptation aimed at returning to the pre-pandemic original state with no changes may lead to a bounce backwards and an uncertain survival, whilst active adaptation leads to a transformation process between OR levels to move forward and thrive in adapting to post-pandemic changes. This study confirmed that building OR requires understanding the ways of transformations among OR levels to undertake activities in strategic areas, i.e., activity scope (AS), cooperation (CO), and finance (FI), to adapt and transform RNPOs’ in an environment of post-pandemic uncertainty.

In the context of the Farm-to-Fork strategy towards climate and natural resources neutralization, all players in agri-food value chain actors and stakeholders – citizens, consumers and business – cope with new challenges based on a better understanding of the complex interrelations between public health, ecosystems, value chains, consumption patterns, and planetary boundaries. From a managerial perspective, several dimensions appear crucial. The first one is circularity, i.e. the move from line to circular models which brings opportunities and threats in terms of quality management standards, procurements arrangements and skills for this circular turn. The second dimension is inclusiveness, with the renewed roles of farming systems as part of complete sustainable agri-food chains, with the core topic of social-environmental inclusivity within either existing agri-food companies or business models from scratch. The third dimension is path-dependency for conventional firms, with knowledge, technological and/or organizational lock-in, along with roles for newcomers and startups in this business model transformation, as well as the place and role of innovation ecosystems.The articles of this special issue offer constrasted view of these challenges.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the sustainable development measures adopted by food companies. This paper analyzes the scope of initiatives and programs undertaken by companies that publish Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports. It demonstrates the importance of food companies in reporting social responsibility in Poland. This paper uses a qualitative method based on a summative content analysis of reports delivered by food companies. It notes that most of the reports are drawn up by market leaders affiliated to international corporations. However, Hortimex Plus Sp. z o.o. Sp. k., a Polish family-run business, is also among them. A positive relationship was identified between the number of implemented social responsibility measures and financial performance of companies under consideration. The leaders covered by this study adopt numerous sustainable development measures such as, in prime place, social initiatives, including charity and donations. Ranked second are environmental programs and initiatives, oriented mainly at reducing the consumption of water, energy products and raw materials. The third group consist of labor-related measures, primarily including those focused on ensuring occupational safety and employee benefits.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the CSR scopes of the leading bank institutions in Poland and to discuss their strategic context in the light of the theoretical findings. This paper analyzes the scope of practices undertaken by banks that publish Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports. It demonstrates the important role of banks in reporting and introducing corporate social responsibility practices in Poland. This paper uses a content analysis of selected banks’ CSR reports. In the analyzed 2007–2016 period it notes the increasing amount of banks’ reports and reported by them practices. The leading CSR bank institutions covered by this study adopt numerous practices such as, primarily, community involvement and development, including charitable, philanthropic and educational activities as well as entrepreneurship, creating jobs and competencies. Ranked second are labor practices and initiatives, oriented mainly at employee volunteering as well as training and development. The third group are consumer issues, primarily including those focused on rising availability of products and services as well as on facilities for clients. This analysis shows that the leading CSR bank institutions better and better understand the role of corporate involvement in society as a modern strategic approach that leverages capabilities to improve salient areas of competitive context and transforms value chains activities to benefit society while reinforcing corporate strategy.