PurposeCooperatives play a dominant role in the European dairy sector. The aim of the study is to define a sustainable business model of dairy cooperatives and explore how stakeholders can contribute to innovation processes generated in this ecosystem.Design/methodology/approachStarting from theoretical assumption and investigation of three major cooperatives located in an ecological agricultural Poland region, known also as “Green Lungs of Poland,” the authors propose a sustainable business model where the role stakeholders in the value co-creation is emphasized.FindingsThe findings of this paper show how the involvement of various stakeholders by the cooperatives contributes to the development of innovations that meet customer expectations, thereby concurring to the creation of social, environmental and economic value.Originality/valueThis paper formulates a business model integrating theoretical assumptions from the literature review with empirical evidence by exploring the roles of stakeholders that contribute and incorporate innovation, responsibility and sustainability into the core of activities of cooperatives.

A number of employees is one of the basic indicators applied for identification of the economic relevance of an industry or an economic sector. Referring to nearly 18.6 million people employed in the 28 EU Member States within the bioeconomy in 2014, it can be stated that this a an economic sphere of significant importance in the European economy. The main aims of the study are to identify a scale of employment in the bioeconomy sector across EU Member States as well as to investigate tertiary education in bioeconomy based on the Polish experience in the Bioeconomy subject area group within the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS). Data used included: (1) the data portal of agro-economics modelling – DataM of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, (2) CAWI research among students of WULS-SGGW on their attitudes to the bioeconomy, (3) feedback of participants of the first summer school in bioeconomy coordinated by WULS-SGGW. Research results display that the majority of Polish students did not meet the term of bioeconomy generally as well as at the university. There is also one very important students’ comment which can describe their attitude: students of economic disciplines are not very much interested as they think that bioeconomy focuses on life sciences (bio) so it is not appropriate for them; students of different fields of life sciences are not very keen to study bioeconomy as according to them it focuses on economy (as in the name itself).

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe organic food supply and demand from the perspective of evolutionary economics. Furthermore, identification of motives of organic food purchasing as well as the most important distribution channels was performed.Design/methodology/approachThis study included review of statistical data available on organic food market, observations from three different formats of shops in France and Poland as well as collected data from 54 French and 85 Polish consumers.FindingsThe findings of this paper show how the organic food market undergoes evolutionary changes, especially how supply and demand sides are being tuned to each other. Health properties of organic food were found as universal characteristics affecting organic food purchasing, regardless the level of the national market development. Organic food retail adjusts to consumer demand, but the rate of this transformation is different when markets of different countries are compared.Originality/valueChanges in supply and demand are continuous in the organic food market; therefore, they should be monitored on an ongoing basis. The insights extend present knowledge on consumer behaviour indicating health concerns as a universal motive affecting organic food purchasing. The study also takes the existing literature a step further by providing additional insight into adjustment of organic food retail to consumer demand.

The concept of circular economy is becoming increasingly important not only for academics, but also for other stakeholders. Notably the local government representatives are implementing such solutions, in response for the population growth and development, connected with increased consumption. This paper aims to recognize existing local solutions of circular economy as well as to identify possible ways for its development. Mixed methodology is used, including constructive approach, swot analysis, descriptive statistics or weak-market test. An analysis emphasizes a positive impact of circular economy on local development of the investigated municipality. However, it is still necessary to continue and intensify information and education activities for increasing public awareness of waste prevention, their removal under communal waste collection and collection systems, and proper management of municipal waste (especially biodegradable waste).