Although the topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been studied in detail in the literature, there is a great need to disclose its industry specifics in relation to the agro-industrial complex. Such research is important not only at the micro, but also at the meso level: using the information obtained, planning and forecasting of CSR results in the industry is possible. The purpose of the work is to highlight the main directions of corporate social responsibility in the agro-industrial complex. The object of the research is the activities and areas of corporate social responsibility in the Russian agro-industrial complex. The article details the views and approaches of representatives of the scientific community on the content of corporate social responsibility, and presents approaches to defining the concept available in economic science. The author analyzes specific corporate social responsibility activities carried out by agricultural enterprises in the Russian Federation. The paper denotes the benefits for enterprises of running a socially responsible business. The theoretical significance of the work lies in clarifying the industry specifics of corporate social responsibility. The practical significance of the research results is that the main conclusions of the work can be used to substantiate the priority directions for the development of corporate social responsibility in relation to the guidelines for the sustainable development of the Russian agro-industrial complex.