Agribusiness sustainability due to social entrepreneurship in Vietnam

Abstract

Global common challenges badly affecting agricultural sustainability embrace, amongst others, countering global climate change, natural resources depletion, living habitat degradation and environmental pollution (Dana, 1994b, 1994a). Sustainable agriculture is essential to feed the world population that exceeds eight billion people. Farmers' social entrepreneurship is a precondition to keep the agribusiness sustainable to counter global common challenges and to follow the trend of circular economy. To investigate the development of social entrepreneurship and its impact on agriculture sustainable development in the Mekong delta, the agricultural region in the Southwest Vietnam, the author has gathered secondary information from trustworthy sources of data base, both traditional and websites of government and public institutions. The findings of this study serve as a basis to put forward solutions for sustaining agribusinesses and their social entrepreneurship. From that, we propose multilevel solutions for policy makers and agribusinesses in this part of Vietnam.

Full text

Int. J.
Entrepreneurship and Small Business
, Vol. X, No. Y, xxxx
1
Copyright © 20XX Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Agribusiness sustainability due to social
entrepreneurship in Vietnam
Nguyen Huu Tinh
Thu Dau Mot University,
06 Tran Van On, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong, Vietnam
Email: tinhnh@tdmu.edu.vn
Nguyen Hoang Tien*
WSB University in Gdansk,
Aleja Grunwaldzka 238A, 80-266 Gdańsk, Poland
Email: vietnameu@gmail.com
*Corresponding author
Nguyen Thi Thu Trang and Doan Van Trai
Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade,
140 Le Trong Tan, Tan Phu ward, HCMC, Vietnam
Email: trangntthu@hufi.edu.vn
Email: traidv@hufi.edu.vn
Abstract: Global common challenges badly affecting agricultural sustainability
embrace, amongst others, countering global climate change, natural resources
depletion, living habitat degradation and environmental pollution (Dana,
1994b, 1994a). Sustainable agriculture is essential to feed the world population
that exceeds eight billion people. Farmers’ social entrepreneurship is a
precondition to keep the agribusiness sustainable to counter global common
challenges and to follow the trend of circular economy. To investigate the
development of social entrepreneurship and its impact on agriculture
sustainable development in the Mekong delta, the agricultural region in the
Southwest Vietnam, the author has gathered secondary information from
trustworthy sources of data base, both traditional and websites of government
and public institutions. The findings of this study serve as a basis to put
forward solutions for sustaining agribusinesses and their social
entrepreneurship. From that, we propose multilevel solutions for policy makers
and agribusinesses in this part of Vietnam.
Keyword: agriculture; sustainability; farming business; agribusiness; social
entrepreneurship; global climate change; circular economy; Mekong delta;
Vietnam.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Tinh, N.H., Tien, N.H.,
Trang, N.T.T. and Trai, D.V. (xxxx) ‘Agribusiness sustainability due to social
entrepreneurship in Vietnam’, Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business,
Vol. X, No. Y, pp.xxx–xxx.

2
N.H. Tinh et al.
Biographical notes: Nguyen Huu Tinh is a PhD holder and Lecturer at Thu
Dau Mot University. His specialisation is in business and financial and
accounting issues. He has over ten years of academic teaching experience. He
has published more than 40 papers domestic and worldwide.
Nguyen Hoang Tien is a Professor at WSB Merito University. He has over
15 years of academic teaching experience and research in management. His
specialisation is in contemporary business and international entrepreneurship.
He has published more than 500 research papers worldwide.
Nguyen Thi Thu Trang is a Lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University
of Industry and Trade. Her specialisation is in business and related
socio-environmental issued. She has over five years of academic teaching
experience. She has published more than 50 papers domestic and worldwide.
Doan Van Trai is a PhD holder and Lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of
Industry and Trade. His specialisation is in business and financial and
economic issues. He has over five years of academic management and teaching
experience. He has published more than 30 papers domestic and worldwide.
1 Introduction
The Mekong delta lying in the South-West Vietnam is a key agricultural economic region
of this country, with relatively stable growth and positive changes in the economic
structure over the past years. The Mekong delta is focusing on innovating its growth
model, in order to improve its competitive edge and to create more value from output
products for the market and consumers. The Mekong delta is also facing many challenges
from extreme weather condition and climate phenomena. For the purpose of sustainable
development, the agricultural economy of the Mekong delta needs to be restructured
towards a sustainable agricultural ecosystem to satisfactorily solve the problems of green
production, adapting new technology and protecting Earth’s environment (AGDARD,
2018, 2019, 2020). This transformation of production models and methods is all about
approaching the circular economy idea and concept (Muscio and Sisto, 2020; Nam and
Hanh, 2019). However, to be more successful, the issue of social entrepreneurship for the
enterprises that are farmers, especially with small scale, needs to be well discussed and
analysed. The circular economy is an irreversible trend towards environmental protection,
green economic growth, sustainable agricultural development in the context that natural
resources are gradually being exhausted, environmental degradation and pollution are
increasing. Furthermore, the environment and climate change is becoming more and
more intense (Nhan, 2019; PM, 2022; Crespi et al., 2018; Chekouri and Chibi, 2017).
Enterprises, especially the SMEs participating in circular agricultural economy, need to
work together through the implementation of concepts and models of community and
social entrepreneurship (Saadaoui and Jbir, 2021). Building a circular economy based on
social entrepreneurship orientation of farmers and agribusinesses can be considered as an
appropriate development direction of Vietnam’s agriculture in the coming decades. In
that context, social entrepreneurial spirit alongside the social responsibility awareness of
the agribusiness community is considered as the most important factor contributing to the
rapid development of the circular economy towards sustainable development. In recent

Agribusiness sustainability due to social entrepreneurship in Vietnam
3
years, agriculture in the Mekong delta has gradually followed the trend of globalisation
and integration with international markets. Therefore, the mainstream trends such as
sustainable development, circular economy, community and social entrepreneurship seem
to have become familiar to local farmers and agribusinesses (Ha, 2021; FAO, 2022). This
article focuses on studying the impact of social entrepreneurship on the sustainability of
the agriculture via the circular economy of Vietnam’s provinces and cities of Mekong
delta region, thereby proposing a number of developmental solutions for the local
government there.
2 Theoretical and conceptual background
2.1 Social entrepreneurship
Issues related to sustainability are becoming increasingly important. Therefore, today’s
businesses are often oriented towards environmental protection, saving natural resources,
energy security and food safety, green consumption, social entrepreneurship and circular
economy. Sustainability in business success is determined by the satisfaction of all
stakeholder groups from farther to closer socio-economic stratification, from short term
oriented to long term oriented in the natural and social environment. Social enterprises
with sustainable business strategies often attach importance to social and community
goals, towards the idea of social justice and inclusion (Bilan et al., 2017). Social
entrepreneurs with deep social embedment in rural communities are often owners and
managers of SMEs that rely on local communities and local governments to mobilise
resources to grow and rise to the higher levels of social integration and environmental
sustainability (Von Friedrichs and Wahlberg, 2016).
To enhance the sustainability of social enterprises, it is necessary to make them social
entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurship is designated to connect micro and small
agribusinesses locating in the far-off agricultural clusters of developing economies
(Goyal and Sergi, 2015). Social entrepreneurship can be used to exploit new business
opportunities due to the trend of sustainable agricultural development, a circular
agricultural economy with the aim of minimising challenges from climate change, with
the use of renewable energy and with the limit of natural resources (Raudeliūnienė et al.,
2014). Social entrepreneurship is seen as a socialised and community-based business and
entrepreneurial activities with the aspiration to become a game-changer in sustainable
agricultural development and circular agricultural economy. These business and
entrepreneurial activities are not merely profit-driven, but also focus on solving social
problems, dealing with environmental challenges posed by climate change and limited
natural resources (Peredo et al., 2004). Social start-ups are often small, medium, or even
micro-sized. Therefore, their joint social entrepreneurial activities are increasingly
significant with characteristics such as: social identity, pro-entrepreneurial culture,
cooperation mechanism, access to the knowledge and entrepreneurial capacity (Ferris and
Voia, 2012). Social entrepreneurs are motivated principally by the urgency to change the
surroundings, recognition and fulfilment of social needs, boosting the networking capital
for social innovations and inclusions (Kuratko, 2011). Social entrepreneurship has
revealed its very specific nature, development motivation and mainly driven purpose in
its approach to business sustainability issues (Castellano et al., 2017). Thus, social
entrepreneurship education is really something that needs to be implemented, especially

4
N.H. Tinh et al.
in terms of and regarding its identity, knowledge, capacities, performance and visions
towards business, society, environment and unlimitedly further such as the existential
threats of the Earth and mankind (Orhei et al., 2015; Frederick, 2018).
2.2 Circular economy
Circular economy can be understood as a sustainable and ideal socio-economic model, in
which activities related to production, business and distribution are directed towards
extending the maximum life cycle of anything or even everything such as products,
services, production inputs such as raw materials and auxiliary materials, other entities
related to the operation of business and society; limiting and eliminating the negative
impacts of this process on people health and wealth, the social environment and the
natural environment (Pearce and Turner, 1990; Ha, 2021; FAO, 2022).
In terms of benefits brought about between traditional economy and circular
economy, the benefits from the circular economy are more sustainable and contribute
positively to the trend of green consumption and green growth around the world.
Developing such a circular economy is synonymous with responsibility and readiness to
respond to global challenges and issues such as degradation of natural resources,
environmental pollution, climate change going hand in hand with improving the
competitiveness of the economy and the business entities within. The circular economy
reuses and minimises the exploitation of natural resources, enhances treatment and limits
waste and emissions to the natural environment and atmosphere (Okada and Samreth,
2017; Khan et al., 2020). In terms of benefits for the society, circular economy reduces
social costs in management, environmental protection and response to climate change,
and at the same time create many new job opportunities, new commodity markets,
contributing to the protection of health and improving the quality of human life.
Particularly for businesses, the circular economy will help reduce the risk of
overproduction, limit the situation of resource scarcity, and create motivation to continue
research and development to innovate technology, minimise production costs, costs of
business operations and supply chain efficiency (Artiach, 2020).
The circular economy is seen through three key principles including (Atienza, 2019;
Al-Marhubi, 2021; Ahmad et al., 2019; Sasaki, 2021; Qi and Li, 2017):
 Conserving and developing natural resources through strict control and
rationalisation of their exploitation, regeneration of natural habitats and especially
the development and popular use of renewable energy resources (Güney, 2021;
Bayale et al., 2021).
 Optimising the return of resources by circulating the input production materials and
manufactured products as quickly as possible in all biological and engineering
cycles.
 Improve the overall efficiency of the system through minimising negative
externalities, treating waste, redesigning the model of the production process right
from the very beginning.

Agribusiness sustainability due to social entrepreneurship in Vietnam
5
2.3 Agribusiness sustainability
The activities of agribusinesses have a great impact on the natural environment, no less
than other production and business activities. This also leads to greenhouse effects,
excessive water consumption, and soil pollution from fertilisers and pesticides. Factors
related to climate change are also considered to have a negative impact on the agricultural
sector. The agricultural circular economy includes activities serving to reduce, reuse, and
recycle everything in the waste treatment process. In the circular economy, waste is also
seen as an underutilised and undervalued resource. To maximise the treatment, utilisation
and recycling of waste, circular economy agribusiness aim to be completely at
zero-emissions to the environment and achieve the highest economic benefits (Sasaki,
2021; Qi and Li, 2017). The circular agricultural economy also connects production and
livestock activities in a highly sustainable way, also aiming to reduce environmental
emissions to near zero (Okada and Samreth, 2017).
A circular agricultural economy will minimise negative impacts on the environment
in order to sustainably feed a rapidly growing world population. The circular agricultural
economy is based on the principle of minimising the use of external production inputs
and minimising the impact on the natural environment in the agricultural production
process. The organic wastes from livestock and farming are converted into nutrient-rich
natural fertilisers for reuse on agricultural farms, significantly reducing input costs
compared to applying synthetic fertilisers (Khan et al., 2020). In different localities,
farmers’ activities related to livestock raising, irrigation have produced various types of
liquid biological waste. This is a source of nutrients with many necessary organic
substances that can be applied directly to feed the plants. The amount of biomass from
plant and animal waste can be used directly to produce different types of biofuels, heat
and electricity, helping the circular economy reduce dependence on chemical and fossil
fuels (Mien, 2021). Reducing waste and increasing efficiency in agricultural production
will support the development of a circular economy. Furthermore, high-tech agriculture
can also provide similar support through investment in research and development to
ensure that only the right amount of the substance is used at the right time and in the right
place to avoid unnecessary, excessive use, reducing the input resources and minimising
the detrimental impact on the natural environment.
3 Investigating the case of Mekong delta in Vietnam
3.1 Agriculture and agribusinesses in the Mekong delta
 From underdeveloped localities to developing agribusiness clusters: The Mekong
delta is an affluent delta with a complicated system of rivers and canals, with the
largest agricultural area and output in Vietnam. This place is the cradle of mainly
small and medium-sized agribusinesses and the vast majority of households are self-
cultivated on the land they own. Medium-sized enterprises are often located in
clusters in large towns or developing cities that are capitals of provinces. Outlying
areas are less developed regions that are dominated by family, micro and small
businesses.

6
N.H. Tinh et al.
 Clan culture (family-based) instead of business culture (market oriented): The
Mekong delta region has the lowest urbanisation rate in Vietnam, except for the
northern mountainous provinces and the Central Highlands. Here, instead of the
market exchange-oriented business culture model, there exists a family culture and a
clan culture. Households, due to their tiny size, still maintain the main subsistent and
self-sufficient agricultural economic model. Neighbouring households often help,
care and support each other for coexistence and development. Therefore, this place
can be considered as the cradle of social entrepreneurship and community
entrepreneurship development in the field of agriculture, including farming, animal
husbandry and aquaculture, etc.
 Favourable and unfavourable conditions for an introduction of circular economy: In
the Mekong delta, like many other localities across Vietnam, the circular economy
model is being implemented for practical benefits both in the short term and in the
long term. The Mekong delta region has been and will suffer enormous damage due
to climate change. Firstly, sea level rise causes salt water intrusion that gradually
limits the area available for farming and husbandry. Secondly, the prolonged drought
has made a lot of hectares of forests and crop areas to be burned, causing great
damage to farmers. With rich but not unlimited resources and gradually shrinking,
the idea of a circular economy in this area has become increasingly clear. People
have also gradually realised the importance of protecting and using natural resources
economically and where possible, using renewable energy sources instead.
3.2 Application of circular economy towards agribusiness sustainability
 Contribution of circular economy to the agribusiness sustainability: The circular
economy helps to limit and reduce the large amounts of emissions into the
atmosphere and waste both liquid and solid into the natural environment. The
circular economy in the Mekong delta has helped small and medium-sized
enterprises, micro and family enterprises, households save resources, cut production
and operating costs, improve own competitiveness and sustainability in particular
and sustainability of the local economy in general. Businesses of all sizes can
support and share with each other within the framework of participating in the
circular economy, turning the process of growing, breeding, production, exchange
and distribution into a closed circle, recycling and minimising waste and rubbish
expelled into the environment.
 Applicability of circular economy to enhance agribusiness sustainability:
Agribusinesses can connect with each other to form a closed circular supply chain
with the output of one farm being the input of the other. Agribusinesses operate in
the fields of production, cultivation, farming, trading and distribution with different
types of seeds and plants. In order to improve the sustainability, they must connect
each other’s inputs to outputs to limit the waste of inputs and the output wastes, and
also limit the travel distance from one business to another to cut unnecessary and
harmful CO2 emissions to the natural environment. Secondly, agribusinesses and
households are gradually moving towards and gradually gaining access to clean and
renewable and unlimited energy sources with relatively competitive investment costs
and usage prices compared to traditional sources.

Agribusiness sustainability due to social entrepreneurship in Vietnam
7
3.3 Social entrepreneurship in boosting agricultural circular economy and
sustainability
 The place of social entrepreneurship in circular economy: Social entrepreneurship is
conceived as a much more sophisticated and complex concept than the
entrepreneurship in the traditional way of thinking. Social entrepreneurship and
social enterprises are significant parts and play a vital role in implementing and
sustaining the circular economy. The circular economy requires the cooperation and
close connection of agribusinesses together into a chain of links that closely
cooperate with each other not only for individual goals but also towards the interests
of the community and society and the environment. Circular economy is a new
concept and its actual implementation in Mekong delta will certainly face
unpredictable challenges, if not risks or even threats from many sides. Thus, local
social entrepreneurship will contribute many innovative ideas that exploit current
potentials and opportunities or improve the status quo, finding the most optimal and
sustainable development directions for a circular economy with plenty of room for
development, perfecting and upgradation to new heights.
 The impact of social entrepreneurship on agribusiness sustainability: Social
entrepreneurship has a very positive impact on the sustainability of the agribusiness
system in the Mekong delta. These agribusinesses are inherently small and medium
enterprises, if not small and micro enterprises, or self-farming and self-employed
family agribusinesses and households, which are rather very fragile and volatile if
staying apart. Therefore, they need mutual support. It can be said that without the
spirit of social entrepreneurship that is a precondition to guarantee business
sustainability, this whole agribusiness system cannot maintain its existence and
development to this day. The spirit of social entrepreneurship arouses the solidarity
of the local community, the solidarity of the village, the solidarity and mutual
support, instead of being based on the rule ‘do it on your own if you can’ so that
every link in the agribusiness system can rise, become strong and support the
remaining links within or even serve the expansion of the next newly formed links in
the system.
 Social entrepreneurship in connecting circular economy and agribusiness
sustainability: In essence, social entrepreneurship is actually a bridge for the circular
economy towards the sustainability of enterprises within the developing agribusiness
system in Mekong delta. Social entrepreneurship helps raise awareness of the role
and the significance, deploying the substantive contents of the circular economy to
all agribusinesses so that they can connect with each other and participate in the
adequate links and contribute to the sustainability of the system through saving
natural resources, increasing the use of renewable energy as an alternative, limiting
emissions, waste expelling to the environment through either recycle or utilise them
in different ways. Social entrepreneurship is seen as an important linker of all
important parts in the circular agricultural economy. Moreover, social
entrepreneurship will provide new ideas for farmers to further promote the
development of the burgeoning circular economy towards the sustainability of the
entire agribusiness system in the Mekong delta.

8
N.H. Tinh et al.
4 Conclusions
4.1 Theoretical and practical contributions
4.1.1 Theoretical contribution
This study has made sound theoretical contributions to the research problem through
profound revisiting and clarifying the key relevant concepts present in the business and
management literature: social entrepreneurship, circular economy, sustainability through
the lens of small and medium enterprises of the agriculture in developing countries. The
article also related these concepts with each other for general understanding and to form
an overall conceptual system serving a basis for further empirical analysis later in this
study.
4.1.2 Practical contribution
This study provides a comprehensive understanding about the context of overall business
and farming activities and the specificity of agriculture and agribusiness system in the
Mekong delta. Furthermore, this study also helps us understand more about the essence
of newly formed and still in burgeoning stage circular economy in the context of Mekong
delta, the largest agricultural area nationwide but the least developing part of Vietnam
economy, and how it could be applied in boosting the sustainability of agricultural
industry. The practical investigation also unveils the current state and the role of local
social entrepreneurship and community solidarity in bridging the circular economy
toward business sustainability.
4.2 Recommended developmental solutions
 Enhancing social entrepreneurship education and knowledge on circular economy:
To develop and perfect a circular economy based on the spirit of social
entrepreneurship of farmers and agribusinesses in the Mekong delta, the state and
local authorities need to have a plan to improve their knowledge, skills and hands-on
experience of what is happening in developed countries within the scope of social
entrepreneurship and circular economy for members of the agrarian economic
community here. Because, in fact, the Mekong delta is still one of the low-lying
areas of Vietnam both literally and figuratively, lagging behind both in updating
human knowledge in the production and business process and regarding the level of
socio-economic development compared to other provinces nationwide. Moreover,
human resource training and development need to be carried out continuously
because the knowledge and practical experience may become outdated and lose its
applicability due to dynamic changes in the environment and business context of the
world. Finally, we must localise the world knowledge and experience to suit the
business context of Vietnam and especially that of the Mekong delta.
 Identify and systemise factors affecting agribusiness sustainability: The factors
affecting the sustainability of agribusiness need to be identified and systemised in
order to be classified into the related and unrelated groups. From there,
agribusinesses, local and state government authorities and policy makers can propose
appropriate means of intervention to improve the sustainability of the whole

Agribusiness sustainability due to social entrepreneurship in Vietnam
9
agribusiness system or certain groups of them in the Mekong delta. This study pays
more attention to the factors related to social entrepreneurship to enhance them
because the author believes that this group of factors has a greater impact on the
agribusiness sustainability via the development and improvement of the local
circular economy here.
 Enhance social entrepreneurship related factors affecting agribusiness
sustainability: Social entrepreneurship has been a tradition and strength of
agribusinesses in the Mekong delta, where micro and small businesses, family
businesses and households are there concentrated and main driven part of the local
economy. Authorities and businesses themselves need to honour, capitalise on, and
promote these advantages to enhance the sustainability of the entire agricultural
system and the local economy. Firstly, it is necessary to promote the spirit of
solidarity and mutual assistance, regardless of difficulties or advantages, towards the
common community interests. Secondly, it is necessary to significantly raise the
entrepreneurial spirit of individuals and communities, continuously innovate, seek to
discover new business ideas and exploit new business opportunities, especially in the
context of the circular agricultural economy. Its perfection seems to be the main and
only trend towards the sustainability of the business system, communities and the
society as a whole.
4.3 Limitations and further research
4.3.1 Limitations
Despite the obtained research results, this study experiences several limitations. First of
them is the sole focus on the Mekong delta region in Vietnam without referring to other
similar parts of the country that has a long standing agrarian and cultivation traditions.
The next flaw of this study is that it provides no detailed about previous related studies.
Due to the page limitation of a typical research paper, author is determined to focus on
practical issues and empirical studies as a top research priority. The last limitation that
seems to be obvious is that there is no specified research methodology regarding how
data were collected, analysed and transferred into research results. However, in the
abstract the author has already stated that he has gathered secondary information from
trustworthy sources of data base, both traditional and websites of government and public
institutions.
4.3.2 Further research
To complete and perfect this study or carry out similar related research in the future,
author advise potential contributor to expanded the scope of analysis that must covers all
parts and corners of Vietnam. Furthermore, the next study should continue the topic with
the partition of research objects scope into households, micro enterprises, family
enterprises, small enterprises, medium enterprises to seek more precise research results
regarding each of these groups. Finally, future contributors should extend and enlarge
their research with comparative analysis with neighbouring agriculture-based economies
in the ASEAN, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia to draw research
results-based conclusions that are more generalised to the level of the region.

10
N.H. Tinh et al.
Acknowledgements
This article is funded by WSB Merito University in Gdansk (Poland), Thu Dau Mot
University (Vietnam) and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (Vietnam).
References
AGDARD (2018, 2019, 2020) Report on Activities in 2018, 2019, 2020, Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development, An Giang Province, Vietnam.
Ahmad, Y., Abdi, D.A.B. and Yehualashet, D.L. (2019) ‘Natural resource endowment and
firm-level innovation in Africa: evidence from crosscountry analysis’, African Journal of
Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp.61–75.
Al-Marhubi, D. (2021) ‘Do natural resource rents reduce labour shares? Evidence from panel data’,
Apple. Econ. Lett., Vol. 28, No. 20, pp.1754–1757.
Artiach, A. (2020) On the Circular Economy, The Environment & The People, Medium, 20 January
[online] https://sustainabilityx.co/on-circular-economy-the-environment-and-the-people-
5459d724ab36 (accessed 21 August 2021).
Atienza, M. (2019) ‘The rent curse: natural resources, policy choice, and economic development’,
Eco. George., Vol. 95, No. 5, pp.519–520.
Bayale, N., Ali, E., Tchagnao, A-F. and Nakumuryango, A. (2021) ‘Determinants of renewable
energy production in WAEMU countries: new empirical insights and policy implications’,
Int. J. Green Energy, Vol. 18, No. 6, pp.602–614.
Bilan, Y., Mishchuk, H. and Pylypchuk, R. (2017) ‘Towards sustainable economic development via
social entrepreneurship’, Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues, Vol. 6, No. 4,
pp.691–702.
Castellano, S., Khelladi, I. and Menvielle, L. (2017) ‘Unveiling the sustainable facet of the
conventional entrepreneur – a cognitive approach’, International Journal of Entrepreneurship
and Small Business, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp.434–450.
Chekouri, S.M.A. and Chibi, M.B. (2017) ‘Algeria and the natural resource curse: oil abundance
and economic growth’, Middle East Development Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.233–255.
Crespi, G., Katz, J. and Olivari, J. (2018) ‘Innovation, natural resource-based activities and growth
in emerging economies: the formation and role of knowledge-intensive service firms’,
Innovation and Development, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp.79–101.
Dana, L.P. (1994a) ‘A Marxist mini-dragon? Entrepreneurship in today’s Vietnam’, Journal of
Small Business and Management, Vol. 33, No. 2, p.95.
Dana, L.P. (1994b) ‘The Doi-Moi model: an ethnographic account of entrepreneurship, innovation,
and change in former French Indo-China’, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Change, Vol. 3,
No. 1, pp.61–84.
FAO (2022) Circular Economy: Waste-to-Resource & COVID-19, Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the United Nations.
Ferris, J.S. and Voia, M.C. (2012) ‘What are the significant determinants of entrepreneurship?’,
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.415–454.
Frederick, H.H. (2018) ‘The emergence of biosphere entrepreneurship: are social and business
entrepreneurship obsolete?’, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business,
Vol. 34, No. 3, pp.381–419.
Goyal, S. and Sergi, B.S. (2015) ‘Social entrepreneurship and sustainability – understanding the
context and key characteristics’, Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues, Vol. 4, No. 3,
pp.269–278.
Güney, T. (2021) ‘Renewable energy consumption and sustainable development in high income
countries’, Int. J. Sustain. Dev. World Ecol., Vol. 28, No. 4, pp.376–385.

Agribusiness sustainability due to social entrepreneurship in Vietnam
11
Ha, T.H. (2021) Develop a Circular Economy for Efficient Management and Use of Resources,
People’s Electronic Newspaper [online] https://nhandan.vn/dang-va-cuoc-song/phat-trien-
king-te-tuan-hoan-de-quan-ly-va-su-dung-hieu-qua-nguyen-tainguyen-641799/ (accessed
22 January 2023).
Khan, M., Khan, A., Ali, K., Popp, J. and Oláh, J. (2020) ‘Natural resource rent and finance: the
moderation role of institutions’, Sustainability, Vol. 12, No. 9, pp.1–23.
Kuratko, D.F. (2011) ‘Entrepreneurship theory, process, and practice in the 21st century’,
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp.8–17.
Mien, N.T. (2021) ‘Developing circular economy in agriculture in Vietnam: some issues and
recommendations’, Journal of Political Theory, No. 3-2021, Institute of Economics, National
Academy of Politics Ho Chi Minh City.
Muscio, A. and Sisto, R. (2020) ‘Are agri-food systems really switching to a circular economy
model? Implications for European research and innovation policy’, Sustainability, Vol. 12,
p.5554, DOI: 10.3390/su12145554.
Nam, N.H. and Hanh, N.T. (2019) Implementing Circular Economy: International Experience and
Policy Implications for Vietnam, Science Journal of Vietnam National University, Hanoi,
No. 10/2019.
Nhan, T.T.M. (2019) ‘Experience in building a circular economy and conditions for transformation
in Vietnam’, Finance Magazine, 1 December.
Okada, K. and Samreth, S. (2017) ‘Corruption and natural resource rents: evidence from quantile
regression’, Apple. Econ. Lett., Vol. 24, No. 20, pp.1490–1493.
Orhei, L.E., Nandram, S.S. and Vinke, J. (2015) ‘Social entrepreneurship competence: evidence
from founders of social enterprises in Romania’, International Journal of Entrepreneurship
and Small Business, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp.80–105.
Pearce, D.W. and Turner, R.K. (1990) Environmental and Resource Economics, JHU Press,
Baltimore, USA.
Peredo, A.M., Anderson, R.B., Galbraith, C.S., Honig, B. and Dana, L.P. (2004) ‘Towards theory
of indigenous entrepreneurship’, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small
Business, Vol. 1, Nos. 1/2, pp.1–20.
PM (2022) Decision No. 687/QD-TTg Dated June 7, 2022, On the Approval of the Circular
Economy Project in Vietnam.
Qi, S. and Li, Y. (2017) ‘Threshold effects of renewable energy consumption on economic growth
under energy transformation’, Chinese Journal of Population Resources and Environment,
Vol. 15, No. 4, pp.312–321.
Raudeliūnienė, J., Tvaronavičienė, M. and Dzemyda, I. (2014) ‘Towards economic security and
sustainability: key success factors of sustainable entrepreneurship in conditions of global
economy’, Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp.71–79.
Saadaoui, F. and Jbir, R. (2021) ‘Petroleum endowment and economic growth: examination of the
resource curse phenomenon’, Energy Sources B Energy Econ. Plann., Vol. 16, No. 7,
pp.603–616.
Sasaki, H. (2021) ‘Non-renewable resources and the possibility of sustainable economic
development in an economy with positive or negative population growth’, Bull. Econ. Res.,
Vol. 73, No. 4, pp.704–720.
Von Friedrichs, Y. and Wahlberg, O. (2016) ‘Social entrepreneurship in the rural areas – a sports
club’s mobilization of people, money and social capital’, International Journal of
Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp.199–216.