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Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 April 2023) | Viewed by 22887

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shuqin Jin

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Guest Editor

Research Center for Rural Economy, Beijing, China
Interests: sustainable agricultural development; policies for prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution; integration of agricultural environment policies; comprehensive treatment of river basins

Dr. Zhen Zhong

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Guest Editor

School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Interests: agricultural economic theory and policy

Dr. KuoRay Mao

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Guest Editor

Department of Sociology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Interests: green criminology; environmental sociology; globalization; crime and deviance; China & East Asia

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

What is the role of agriculture? It is firstly fundamental to human existence, and more than that, it is one of the most powerful tools to end poverty, boost shared prosperity, and feed a projected 9.7 billion people by 2050. After eight years of arduous efforts, China has offered the world a model for poverty alleviation by lifting nearly 100 million Chinese people out of poverty. Now, China’s GDP per capita is USD 12,000, but its agricultural and rural modernization level still lags far behind the overall modernization level. To cope with this, China is committed to promoting two major strategies: one is to achieve comprehensive rural revitalization, and the other is to achieve green agricultural transformation.

Not only China but also the whole world has been paying great attention to rural development. We believe scientific guidance and the knowledge and experience sharing are the key to our ultimate success. This Special Issue serves as a platform to call for and collect global wisdom on rural revitalization and the green development of agriculture, in order to enhance the academic communication in this area. Specifically, this Special Issue welcomes studies that focus on 1) the economic/political aspects of rural revitalization and the green transformation of agriculture; 2) green crop production systems and integrated soil–crop system management; 3) integrated crop–livestock production systems, green feeding, and green disposal of excrement; 4) green food products and industry; 5) the rural environment and ecosystem services. Other closely related or interdisciplinary studies are also warmly welcomed.

Dr. Shuqin Jin
Dr. Zhen Zhong
Dr. KuoRay Mao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

rural revitalization/reform
agricultural green development
multi-functionality of agriculture
rural environmental governance
sustainable agriculture
sustainable utilization of rural resources
cover crop/crop rotation/intercropping
integrated crop–livestock production
manure management
food security
environmental pollution
climate change

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Evolution of Multifunctional Agriculture in Italy

by Concetta Cardillo, Orlando Cimino, Marcello De Rosa and Martina Francescone

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11403; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411403 - 22 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2170

Abstract

This study dealt with multifunctional farming, which is meant as a dynamic strategy that is carried out by Italian farms. The path alongside the multifunctional paradigm is carried out through both supply chain and territorial strategies, which deserve more attention. These strategies reinforce sustainable business models characterized by the presence of both deepening and broadening strategies. The first ones are centered around product differentiation and valorization through geographical indications, organic farming, etc. Broadening strategies are implemented through new on-farm activities, such as agritourism, and other gainful activities carried out at the farm level. Set against this background, the article discusses the evolution of farms according to the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) database by putting forward an empirical analysis, which considered the evolution of farm typologies oriented toward multifunctionality in the last decade. The analysis underlined the positive dynamics and the evolution of farms adhering to the multifunctional paradigm. Moreover, as evidenced in the econometric analysis, the adoption of multifunctional farming activities provided a sound contribution to income formation. This addressed some policy issues that were identified at the beginning of the new programming period for rural development of the EU and their resolution aims to reinforce the virtuous trajectory toward multifunctional farming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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20 pages, 2939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Rural Development in China over the Past 40 Years

by Ying Lu and Walter Timo de Vries

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8591; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118591 - 25 May 2023

Viewed by 1391

Abstract

Over the past 40 years, rural China has witnessed drastic changes in its spatial and socio-economic development. In this study, we adopt a quantitative approach to analyze the spatio-temporal patterns of the rural development process. We build an indicator system with nine indicators from population, land, and industry dimensions and calculate the change rate of each indicator of 31 provinces in seven five-year development cycles from 1980 to 2018. Then, we identify five different development types and present their temporal evolution and spatial distribution. From the result, we can see that the predominant type changes under the influence of urbanization and industrialization processes and the development policies and strategies. The disparity between the western and eastern regions is obvious, and the city-clusters have a profound impact on the rural areas around them. We suggest that development policies and strategies should coordinate the relationship between population, land, and industry to achieve rural revitalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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22 pages, 430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Green Development Level of Mianyang Agriculture, Based on the Entropy Weight Method

by Changhong Chen and Huijie Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7589; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097589 - 5 May 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1371

Abstract

Achieving the “dual carbon” objective is contingent upon the ecological development of agriculture. As the only Science and Technology City in China, evaluating the level of green agricultural development in Mianyang during the 13th Five-Year Plan is of considerable practical importance. Using the entropy weight comprehensive evaluation method, this paper determines the level of green agricultural development in Mianyang by selecting panel data from 2016 to 2020 for Mianyang and its counties (cities and districts) and constructing 15 agricultural green development evaluation indicators from three levels: socioeconomic, scientific and technological progress, and resources and environment. The results indicate that the overall level of green agricultural development in the city of Mianyang is satisfactory, and that the level of green development increased each year from 2016 to 2020, with clear differences in the level of green agricultural development between counties (cities and districts) and numerous factors influencing the development of green agriculture. On this basis, it is proposed that local conditions-specific green agricultural development policies be formulated and implemented in accordance with local conditions to promote the ecological and high-quality development of agriculture by capitalizing on the benefits of a science and technology city, and to assist in achieving the “dual carbon” objective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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18 pages, 2828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agricultural Carbon Emissions Embodied in China’s Foreign Trade and Its Driving Factors

by Rui Song, Jing Liu and Kunyu Niu

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010787 - 1 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1454

Abstract

Since the development of global trade, the involvement of agriculture in globalization has been increasing. Globalization and trade have led to the separation of production and consumption, triggering a worldwide relocation of agricultural carbon emissions (ACE). By linking a global ACE database to a global multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model, this paper calculates the ACE embodied in China’s foreign trade. Moreover, by using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition method, it analyzes the impacts of embodied ACE intensity, trade scale, industrial structure, economic development and consumption levels, and population on China’s ACE. We found that the impact of globalization on China’s ACE is gradually increasing. China has shifted from a net ACE exporter (the net export volume in 1961 was 13.52 million tons) to a net ACE importer (the net import volume in 2016 was 40.35 million tons). By investigating the underlying mechanisms, we found that the dominant factor was the inhibitory effect of the decline in the embodied ACE intensity of China, contributing 73% to the increase in net import volume, followed by the expansion of trade and the decline in the proportion of agricultural output value in GDP, with contribution rates of 17 and 10%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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20 pages, 1675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Emission Measurement and Influencing Factors of China’s Beef Cattle Industry from a Whole Industry Chain Perspective

by Yumeng Sun, Chun Yang, Mingli Wang, Xuezhen Xiong and Xuefen Long

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15554; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315554 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1541

Abstract

The beef cattle industry is pivotal in China’s livestock industry and is important for meeting people’s needs for a better life in the new era. It is strategically important for prospering the frontier, enriching people, and revitalizing the countryside. Because of the national “double carbon” target, there will be an impact on the development of the meat cattle industry, which has a relatively high carbon emission level. The scientific measurement of carbon emission levels in the beef cattle industry, clarifying its main impact factors, are particularly critical. This study measured the carbon emissions from China’s beef cattle industry from 2008 to 2020, using provincial data and the life cycle method, and investigated its influencing factors using a spatial econometric model. The study is of great practical significance for accurately understanding the carbon emissions of the beef cattle industry and for promoting low carbon emission reductions and the transformational development of the beef cattle industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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16 pages, 1872 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Agricultural Social Services on Green Production of Natural Rubber: Evidence from Hainan, China

by Jingpeng Chen, Desheng Zhang, Zhi Chen, Zhijian Li and Zigong Cai

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14138; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114138 - 29 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1479

Abstract

It is vital to concentrate on conserving the ecological environment and promoting production efficiency in the process of planting natural rubber. Agricultural social services (ASSs) play an essential role in helping rubber farmers to achieve green production. Based on the survey data of 552 natural rubber farmers in Hainan Province, this study builds an index system regarding socialized services for rubber production from three factors: technology extension services, financial insurance services, and market information services. This research uses the slack-based measure (SBM) model and the Tobit model to analyze the green production efficiency (GPE) and the influences of rubber production socialized services on the rubber growers’ green production efficiency. Our results revealed that (1) the average green productivity of rubber planting in Hainan is approximately 0.41, which means that there is ample space for improvement; (2) ASSs have a significant positive effect on increasing the green rubber production efficiency; and (3) among ASSs, the technical extension service has the most significant effect on improving the green production efficiency of the growers. To further raise GPE of natural rubber, the socialized service system can be strengthened in terms of technology, capital, and information. ASSs have noticeable potential in improving the efficiency of rubber green production while ensuring economic, social, and ecological sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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18 pages, 3752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rural Living Environment Governance: A Survey and Comparison between Two Villages in Henan Province of China

by Cuicui Xiao, Jingbo Zhou, Xingxing Shen, Jonathan Cullen, Susie Dobson, Fanran Meng and Xiaoxia Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14136; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114136 - 29 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2179

Abstract

Rural living environment governance is an issue of great importance in global economic development. It is also a significant facet of the rural revitalization strategy pursued by the Chinese government. Henan Province is a major agricultural province in the inland Central Plains region and is one of the most populous provinces in China. In this study, we take two villages in the underdeveloped areas of Henan Province in central China as case studies. We use field investigations and in-depth interviews to analyze the feelings of farmers in the case study villages towards the efforts to improve the rural environment, and explored the factors that affect levels of satisfaction with the rural living environment from the perspective of grassroots governance. The results showed that there were significant differences in the perceptions and satisfaction levels of rural residents in the two villages. The grassroots government has great influence over the rural human settlement environment, and its deployment capacities and management level are the key factors that affect overall levels of farmer satisfaction. China’s experience in improving rural human settlements provides reference for rural governance in other developing countries and regions around the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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14 pages, 982 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Policy Cognition, Household Income and Farmers’ Satisfaction: Evidence from a Wetland Ecological Compensation Project in the Poyang Lake Area at the Micro Level

by Jie Pang, Leshan Jin, Yujie Yang, Heng Li, Zongling Chu and Fei Ding

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10955; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710955 - 2 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1547

Abstract

The paper follows a field survey of 773 rural households in 14 towns in five prefectures (cities and districts) around the Poyang Lake, and uses a multivariate ordered logistic model to explore the factors influencing satisfaction with wetland ecological compensation policies (WECPs) from the perspective of rural households’ subjective cognition of WECPs and income factors. The research shows the following. (1) the overall score for satisfaction of farmers with WECPs is 3.56, which indicates satisfaction between “fair” and “fairly satisfied,” and there is room for policy optimization. (2) The subjective cognition of policies and the income-related factors have significant impacts on the satisfaction of farmers with WECPs. Among them, cognition of policy objectives, evaluation of compensation rates, timely distribution of compensations, government supervision, changes in household incomes and importance of compensation on households all have significant positive influences on policy satisfaction. (3) The degree of education, the proportion of household labor forces and the proportion of household non-agricultural incomes have a significant positive impact on the policy satisfaction of farmers. Therefore, in future policy implementation, we should strengthen publicity and guidance of the policy, raise compensation rates appropriately, strengthen government supervision, pay attention to rural livelihood, and establish an ecological compensation mechanism featuring fairness and long-term effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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20 pages, 1492 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Agricultural Extension Services Improve Farmers’ Organic Fertilizer Use in China? The Perspective of Neighborhood Effect and Ecological Cognition

by Dan Qiao, Ningjie Li, Li Cao, Desheng Zhang, Yanan Zheng and Tao Xu

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7166; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127166 - 11 Jun 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3413

Abstract

Improving farmers’ usage of organic fertilizer is critical for the green and high-quality development of China’s agriculture. Based on 492 mango farmers’ survey data in Hainan Province, this paper uses an endogenous switching regression (ESR)model, empirically analyzes the impact of agricultural extension services on farmers’ willingness to use organic fertilizer, and further investigates the mediating role of ecological cognition and the moderating role of neighborhood effect in the influence mechanism. Results show agricultural extension services have a significant positive effect on farmers’ willingness to use organic fertilizer, ecological cognition has a partial mediating effect in the influence mechanism, which accounts for 17.84% of the total effect. The neighborhood effect has a positive moderating effect in the influence mechanism of ecological cognition on farmers’ willingness to use organic fertilizer. These results imply that agricultural extension services play a significant role in China’s sustainable agricultural development and by improving their awareness and taking advantage of the neighborhood effect, we can stimulate farmers’ willingness to green production. The study also puts forward policy recommendations on further promoting farmers’ use of organic fertilizer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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Review

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17 pages, 749 KiB

Open AccessReview

From Biotechnology to Bioeconomy: A Review of Development Dynamics and Pathways

by Xun Wei, Jie Luo, Aqing Pu, Qianqian Liu, Lei Zhang, Suowei Wu, Yan Long, Yan Leng, Zhenying Dong and Xiangyuan Wan

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10413; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610413 - 22 Aug 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4790

Abstract

Based on the logistic growth model, the relationship between technology innovation and the evolution of economic forms was analyzed, and the main characteristics and basic laws of the five economic forms of hunter–gatherer, agriculture, industry, information, and bioeconomy were summarized. Based on a comprehensive and intensive scan of the latest bioeconomy development strategies of various countries, we summarized their two main driving forces from the technological supply side and economic and social demand side, as well as their four distinctive features, namely the comprehensiveness of science and technology innovation, the aggregation of industrial development, the globalization of development goals, and strong policy dependence. Finally, we proposed countermeasures to design the implementation path of the bioeconomy and improve the quality of the bioeconomy factor supply in terms of the development and application of biotechnology, the upgradation of bioindustry clusters, the positive policy environment, and the theorization of the bioeconomy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Revitalization and the Green Transformation of Global Agriculture)

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