|
|
Agriculture Green Development: a model for China and the world |
Jianbo SHEN1, Qichao ZHU1, Xiaoqiang JIAO1, Hao YING1, Hongliang WANG1, Xin WEN1, Wen XU1, Tingyu LI1, Wenfeng CONG1, Xuejun LIU1, Yong HOU1, Zhenling CUI1, Oene OENEMA2, William J. DAVIES3, Fusuo ZHANG1( ) |
1. National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions (Ministry of Education), China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China 2. Department of Soil Quality, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, 6700 AA, the Netherlands 3. Lancaster Environment Centre, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK |
|
|
Abstract Realizing sustainable development has become a global priority. This holds, in particular, for agriculture. Recently, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Nineteenth National People’s Congress has delivered a national strategy for sustainable development in China—realizing green development. The overall objective of Agriculture Green Development (AGD) is to coordinate “green” with “development” to realize the transformation of current agriculture with high resource consumption and high environmental costs into a green agriculture and countryside with high productivity, high resource use efficiency and low environmental impact. This is a formidable task, requiring joint efforts of government, farmers, industry, educators and researchers. The innovative concept for AGD will focus on reconstructing the whole crop-animal production and food production-consumption system, with the emphasis on high thresholds for environmental standards and food quality as well as enhanced human well-being. This paper addresses the significance, challenges, framework, pathways and potential solutions for realizing AGD in China, and highlights the potential changes that will lead to a more sustainable agriculture in the future. Proposals include interdisciplinary innovations, whole food chain improvement and regional solutions. The implementation of AGD in China will provide important implications for the countries in developmental transition, and contribute to global sustainable development.
|
Keywords
Agriculture Green Development
food security
interdisciplinary innovations
resource use efficiency
sustainable development
sustainable intensification
whole industry chain
|
Corresponding Author(s):
Fusuo ZHANG
|
Just Accepted Date: 27 December 2019
Online First Date: 11 February 2020
Issue Date: 02 March 2020
|
|
1 |
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAOSTAT Data, 2018. Available at FAO website (faostat) on May 5, 2019
|
2 |
H S Yang. Resource management, soil fertility and sustainable crop production: experiences of China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2006, 116(1–2): 27–33
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2006.03.017
|
3 |
M Fan, J Shen, L Yuan, R Jiang, X Chen, W J Davies, F Zhang. Improving crop productivity and resource use efficiency to ensure food security and environmental quality in China. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2012, 63(1): 13–24
https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/err248
pmid: 21963614
|
4 |
X Jiao, Y Lyu, X Wu, H Li, L Cheng, C Zhang, L Yuan, R Jiang, B Jiang, Z Rengel, F Zhang, W J Davies, J Shen. Grain production versus resource and environmental costs: towards increasing sustainability of nutrient use in China. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2016, 67(17): 4935–4949
https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erw282
pmid: 27489235
|
5 |
J B Shen, Z L Cui, Y X Miao, G H Mi, H Y Zhang, M S Fan, C C Zhang, R F Jiang, W F Zhang, H G Li, X P Chen, X L Li, F S Zhang. Transforming agriculture in China: from solely high yield to both high yield and high resource use efficiency. Global Food Security, 2013, 2(1): 1–8
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2012.12.004
|
6 |
J K Huang, G L Yang. Understanding recent challenges and new food policy in China. Global Food Security, 2017, 12: 119–126
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2016.10.002
|
7 |
S R Carpenter. Phosphorus control is critical to mitigating eutrophication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2008, 105(32): 11039–11040
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0806112105
pmid: 18685114
|
8 |
X Liu, Y Zhang, W Han, A Tang, J Shen, Z Cui, P Vitousek, J W Erisman, K Goulding, P Christie, A Fangmeier, F Zhang. Enhanced nitrogen deposition over China. Nature, 2013, 494(7438): 459–462
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11917
pmid: 23426264
|
9 |
X Q Jiao, H Y Zhang, W Q Ma, C Wang, X L Li, F S Zhang. Science and Technology Backyard: a novel approach to empower smallholder farmers for sustainable intensification of agriculture in China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2019, 18(8): 1657–1666
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62592-X
|
10 |
National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC). 2017, National Data. Available at NBSC website on October 1, 2018.
|
11 |
Q Zhu, W de Vries, X Liu, T Hao, M Zeng, J Shen, F Zhang. Enhanced acidification in Chinese croplands as derived from element budgets in the period 1980–2010. Science of the Total Environment, 2018, 618: 1497–1505
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.289
pmid: 29089131
|
12 |
P Caron, G Ferrero Y de Loma-Osorio, D Nabarro, E Hainzelin, M Guillou, I Andersen, T Arnold, M Astralaga, M Beukeboom, S Bickersteth, M Bwalya, P Caballero, B M Campbell, N Divine, S Fan, M Frick, A Friis, M Gallagher, J P Halkin, C Hanson, F Lasbennes, T Ribera, J Rockstrom, M Schuepbach, A Steer, A Tutwiler, G Verburg. Food systems for sustainable development: proposals for a profound four-part transformation. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2018, 38(4): 41
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-018-0519-1
pmid: 30956691
|
13 |
L Haddad, C Hawkes, P Webb, S Thomas, J Beddington, J Waage, D Flynn. A new global research agenda for food. Nature, 2016, 540(7631): 30–32
https://doi.org/10.1038/540030a
pmid: 27905456
|
14 |
HLPE. Food losses and waste in the context of sustainable food systems. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security. Rome: HLPE Report 8, 2014
|
15 |
D Tilman. Global environmental impacts of agricultural expansion: the need for sustainable and efficient practices. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1999, 96(11): 5995–6000
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.96.11.5995
pmid: 10339530
|
16 |
P M Vitousek, R Naylor, T Crews, M B David, L E Drinkwater, E Holland, P J Johnes, J Katzenberger, L A Martinelli, P A Matson, G Nziguheba, D Ojima, C A Palm, G P Robertson, P A Sanchez, A R Townsend, F S Zhang. Nutrient imbalances in agricultural development. Science, 2009, 324(5934): 1519–1520
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1170261
pmid: 19541981
|
17 |
J Schindler, F Graef, H J König. Methods to assess farming sustainability in developing countries. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2015, 35(3): 1043–1057
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-015-0305-2
|
18 |
M Stephens, L Montanarella, E Micheli, M G Kibblewhite, R Baritz, D Arrouays, R J A Jones, S Huber. Environmental assessment of soil for monitoring. Volume VI: soil monitoring system for Europe. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014 doi: 10.2788/95007
|
19 |
R S Paroda. Reorienting agricultural research for development to address emerging challenges in agriculture. Journal of Research, 2012, 49(3): 134–138
|
20 |
L E D Smith. A policy framework for agricultural green development by farmers. Frontiers of Agricultural Sicence and Engineering, 2019 [Published Online] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2019290
|
21 |
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAOSTAT Data, 2013. Available at FAO website (faostat) on April 21, 2017
|
22 |
International Fertilizer Association (IFA). 2017, International Fertilizer Association statistic database. Available at IFA website (ifadata) on April 21, 2017
|
23 |
J H Guo, X J Liu, Y Zhang, J L Shen, W X Han, W F Zhang, P Christie, K W T Goulding, P M Vitousek, F S Zhang. Significant acidification in major Chinese croplands. Science, 2010, 327(5968): 1008–1010
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1182570
pmid: 20150447
|
24 |
X T Ju, G X Xing, X P Chen, S L Zhang, L J Zhang, X J Liu, Z L Cui, B Yin, P Christie, Z L Zhu, F S Zhang. Reducing environmental risk by improving N management in intensive Chinese agricultural systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009, 106(9): 3041–3046
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0813417106
pmid: 19223587
|
25 |
C Yu, X Huang, H Chen, H C J Godfray, J S Wright, J W Hall, P Gong, S Ni, S Qiao, G Huang, Y Xiao, J Zhang, Z Feng, X Ju, P Ciais, N C Stenseth, D O Hessen, Z Sun, L Yu, W Cai, H Fu, X Huang, C Zhang, H Liu, J Taylor. Managing nitrogen to restore water quality in China. Nature, 2019, 567(7749): 516–520
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1001-1
pmid: 30818324
|
26 |
Z L Cui, Z X Dou, H Ying, F S Zhang. Producing more with less environmental impacts through an integrated soil-crop system management approach. Frontiers of Agricultural Sicence and Engineering, 2019 [Published Online] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2019295
|
27 |
W J Davies, S E Ward, A Wilson. Can crop science really help us to produce more better quality food while reducing the world-wide environmental footprint of agriculture? Frontiers of Agricultural Sicence and Engineering, 2019 [Published Online] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2019299
|
28 |
N Munier-Jolain, M Lechenet. Redesigning cropping systems for improving agricultural sustainability: methodological lessons from participatory research based on farm networks. Frontiers of Agricultural Sicence and Engineering, 2019 [Published Online] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2019292
|
29 |
Z H Bai, L Ma, O Oenema, Q Chen, F S Zhang. Nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies in dairy production in china. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2013, 42(4): 990–1001
https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2012.0464
pmid: 24216351
|
30 |
Z Bai, X Li, J Lu, X Wang, G L Velthof, D Chadwick, J Luo, S Ledgard, Z Wu, S Jin, O Oenema, L Ma, C Hu. Livestock housing and manure storage need to be improved in China. Environmental Science & Technology, 2017, 51(15): 8212–8214
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b02672
pmid: 28731333
|
31 |
National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC). National Data, 2016. Available at NBSC website on October 3, 2018
|
32 |
B Tan, Y Yin. Environmental sustainability analysis and nutritional strategies of animal production in China. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 2017, 5(1): 171–184
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022935
pmid: 27912244
|
33 |
D Chadwick, J Williams, Y L Lu, L Ma, Z H Bai, Y Hou, X P Chen. Strategies to reduce pollution from manure management in China. Frontiers of Agricultural Sicence and Engineering, 2019 [Published Online] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2019293
|
34 |
F L Pryor. Economic systems of foraging, agricultural, and industrial societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005
|
35 |
X Zhang, Q Fang, T Zhang, W Ma, G L Velthof, Y Hou, O Oenema, F Zhang. Benefits and trade-offs of replacing synthetic fertilizers by animal manures in crop production in China: a meta-analysis. Global Change Biology, 2019, 00: 1–13
https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14826
pmid: 31495039
|
36 |
J M Wang, Q Liu, Y Hou, W Qin, J P Lesschen, F S Zhang, O Oenema. International trade of animal feed: its relationships with livestock density and N and P balances at country level. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 2018, 110(1): 197–211
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-017-9885-3
|
37 |
China Green Food Development Center (CGFDC). The promotion video of China Green Food. Available at CGFDC website on September 6, 2017 (in Chinese)
|
38 |
Z H Zhang, H X Yu, X J Li, B B Liu, Y Tian. Research on the development of strategy of green food industry in China. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 2015, 36(3): 35–38 (in Chinese)
|
39 |
K B Kc, G M Dias, A Veeramani, C J Swanton, D Fraser, D Steinke, E Lee, H Wittman, J M Farber, K Dunfield, K McCann, M Anand, M Campbell, N Rooney, N E Raine, R V Acker, R Hanner, S Pascoal, S Sharif, T G Benton, E D G Fraser. When too much isn’t enough: does current food production meet global nutritional needs? PLoS One, 2018, 13(10): e0205683
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205683
pmid: 30352069
|
40 |
M Hassan, X Wen, J L Xu, J H Zhong, X X Li. Development and challenges of green food in China. Frontiers of Agricultural Sicence and Engineering, 2019 [Published Online] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2019296
|
41 |
X T Ju, C Zhang. Nitrogen cycling and environmental impacts in upland agricultural soils in North China: a review. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2017, 16(12): 2848–2862
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61743-X
|
42 |
B Gu, A M Leach, L Ma, J N Galloway, S X Chang, Y Ge, J Chang. Nitrogen footprint in China: food, energy, and nonfood goods. Environmental Science & Technology, 2013, 47(16): 9217–9224
https://doi.org/10.1021/es401344h
pmid: 23883136
|
43 |
S M Powers, T W Bruulsema, T P Burt, N I Chan, J J Elser, P M Haygarth, N J K Howden, H P Jarvie, Y Lyu, H M Peterson, A N Sharpley, J B Shen, F Worrall, F S Zhang. Long-term accumulation and transport of anthropogenic phosphorus in three river basins. Nature Geoscience, 2016, 9(5): 353–357
https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2693
|
44 |
X J Liu, W Xu, Z P Sha, Y Y Zhang, Z Wen, J X Wang, F S Zhang, K Goulding. A green eco-environment for sustainable development: framework and action. Frontiers of Agricultural Sicence and Engineering, 2019 [Published Online] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2019297
|
45 |
D Rhoten, A Parker. Risks and rewards of an interdisciplinary research path. Science, 2004, 306(5704): 2046
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1103628
pmid: 15604393
|
46 |
C Lyall, A Bruce, W Marsden, L Meagher. The role of funding agencies in creating interdisciplinary knowledge. Science & Public Policy, 2013, 40(1): 62–71
https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scs121
|
47 |
B Doherty, J Ensor, T Heron, P Prado. Food systems resilience: towards an interdisciplinary research agenda. Emerald Open Research, 2019, 1: 4
https://doi.org/10.12688/emeraldopenres.12850.1
|
48 |
G Carr, D P Loucks, G Blöschl. Gaining insight into interdisciplinary research and education programmes: a framework for evaluation. Research Policy, 2018, 47(1): 35–48
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.09.010
|
49 |
J B Shen, F S Zhang, K H M Siddique. Sustainable resource use in enhancing agricultural development in China. Engineering, 2018, 4(5): 588–589
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2018.08.007
|
50 |
W N Guo, Y Yang. Application of industry chain theory in the financial services of small and medium-sized enterprises. In: 1st International Symposium on Economic Development and Management Innovation 2019, Hohhot, China. Paris, France: Atlantis Press, 2019, 91: 178–183
|
51 |
W Zhang, G Cao, X Li, H Zhang, C Wang, Q Liu, X Chen, Z Cui, J Shen, R Jiang, G Mi, Y Miao, F Zhang, Z Dou. Closing yield gaps in China by empowering smallholder farmers. Nature, 2016, 537(7622): 671–674
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature19368
pmid: 27602513
|
52 |
G F Leslie. Towards the sustainable intensification of agriculture: a systems approach to plocy formulation. Frontiers of Agricultural Sicence and Engineering, 2019 [Published Online] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2019291
|
53 |
C Parra-López, J C Groot, C Carmona-Torres, W A Rossing. An integrated approach for ex-ante evaluation of public policies for sustainable agriculture at landscape level. Land Use Policy, 2009, 26(4): 1020–1030
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2008.12.006
|
|
Viewed |
|
|
|
Full text
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
|
Cited |
|
|
|
|
|
Shared |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussed |
|
|
|
|