Research on World Agricultural Economy

Empowering Rural Economies: The Role of Social Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development

Submission Deadline: November 20, 2024

Guest Editors:

Dr. Muhammad Salman Shabbir     
York St John University, London Campus, United Kingdom (UK)

Dr. Arshad Mahmood        
FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management, Essen, Germany

Dr. Rabia S.        
Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, United Kingdon

Summary

This special issue investigates the transformational influence of social entrepreneurship in promoting sustainable agricultural development and strengthening rural economies. By using creative business models that prioritize social impact, social entrepreneurship has the potential to address agriculture's most pressing concerns, such as food security, environmental sustainability, and rural poverty reduction. We welcome articles that offer empirical, theoretical, or case-based perspectives on how social entrepreneurs might revitalize agricultural methods, involve rural communities, and promote sustainable development.

Background and Literature Review

Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a key driver of sustainable agricultural development and rural economic prosperity. According to Muñoz and Kimmitt (2019), social companies play an important role in developing creative solutions to agricultural concerns such food poverty, market inefficiencies, and environmental degradation. Social businesses can help to close the economic and social divide by empowering rural farmers, improving access to resources, and promoting sustainable practices (Saebi, Foss, & Linder, 2019).

According to Kimmitt and Muñoz (2018), social businesses may improve agricultural value chains by building community-based collaborations and using environmentally friendly technology. Such projects result in diverse revenue sources for rural people and long-term economic viability (Thompson, Herrmann, & Hekkert, 2021). Furthermore, social entrepreneurs are widely regarded as crucial participants in adopting sustainable farming practices that are consistent with global sustainability objectives (Dees, 2020).

Aims and Scope

The special issue aims to provide a forum for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to investigate the link between social entrepreneurship and sustainable agricultural growth. It will include research on how social businesses may promote resilience in rural agricultural economies by implementing new business models, collaborations, and technology solutions. This issue also seeks articles on the problems that social entrepreneurs confront when increasing their effect, as well as the role of government policies in promoting social enterprises in agriculture.

Relevant Topics:

• Social entrepreneurship models in rural and agricultural contexts.
• Sustainable agricultural practices led by social enterprises.
• Social enterprises and rural poverty alleviation.
• The role of social entrepreneurship in promoting food security.
• Access to markets and resources for smallholder farmers through social enterprises.
• Technological innovation and digital platforms for agricultural social enterprises.
• Social entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment in agriculture.
• Policy frameworks supporting social entrepreneurship in agriculture.
• Case studies of successful agricultural social enterprises.
• Public-private partnerships in agricultural social entrepreneurship.
• Impact of social enterprises on environmental sustainability in rural areas.
• Financing and investment models for agricultural social enterprises.
• Social entrepreneurship in climate-resilient agricultural practices.
• The role of social enterprises in promoting sustainable supply chains.
• Challenges faced by social entrepreneurs in scaling agricultural initiatives.

Collection Editor(s)

Dr. Muhammad Salman Shabbir (SFHEA, CMBE, ALDHE, FRSA)

Dr. Arshad Mahmood

Dr. Rabia S.

Keywords:

• Social entrepreneurship
• Rural development
• Sustainable agriculture
• Agricultural innovation
• Food security
• Environmental sustainability
• Agricultural value chains
• Rural poverty alleviation
• Social impact
• Agricultural social enterprises

How to Submit Manuscripts?

You can submit your manuscript in two ways:

Online Submission: Please register/login at  https://journals.nasspublishing.com/index.php/rwae. Once logged in, you can follow the instructions on the page to upload your manuscript. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact us.
Email Submission: Alternatively, you can email your manuscript to rwae@nassg.org for inquiries. Our editorial team will contact you upon receiving your email and guide you through the submission process.

We welcome various types of manuscripts, including original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us. We look forward to receiving your submission!