Exploration and Practice of Ideological and Political Teaching Construction for Biochemistry Course in Agricultural Colleges and Universities

Biochemistry is a fundamental core course in disciplines such as agriculture,forestry,medicine,animal husbandry,veterinary medicine,and food science.By prioritizing"educating people"in the teaching process of this professional course,we can unearth diverse ideological and political elements related to agricultural production practices within the curriculum knowledge system and the forefront of discipline development.Exploring various teaching methods and utilizing diverse teaching tools are effective strategies to achieve ideological and political education that silently influences students in the field of biochemistry.The goal is to nurture students strong ideals and beliefs,fostering a deep connection to the sentiments of"agriculture,rural areas and farmers in a great nation."This approach aims to instill a sense of responsibility towards strengthening agriculture,shaping students into individuals from South China Agricultural University who possess lofty aspirations and the courage to shoulder responsibility in the new era.

National mandatory standard on agricultural mulch film issued

The revised national mandatory standard on polyethylene blown mulch film for agricultural uses was officially issued in October 2017.The new standard defines the increase of the minimum thickness of mulch film,which can prevent the overuse of ultra-thin mulch film and promote the recycling and aging-resistance of mulch film,according to Sha Nansheng,Deputy-Director of Science and Technology Division,MIIT.

Investment Projects in Dangshan——The National Ecological Agriculture County

Dangshan County is situated in the mostnortherly part of Anhui Province, acontiguous area of fourprovinces(Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan andAnhui) and six counties(Fengxian, Shanxian,Yucheng, Xiayi, Yongcheng and Xiaoxian).The County is named after Mount Mangdangand Mount Dangshan in the territory. TheLonghai Railway and National Highway 310pass through in parallel the central part of thecounty area, and the ancient Yellow Rivercourse lies in the northern part of the country,extending a hundred li(50 km). The totalland area of the county is 1192.94 sq km, ofwhich the cultivated land area is 904 thousandmu. 650 thousand mu of orchards cover thefields linking to the villages. It is major

China National Research Center of Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture

China National Research Center of Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture （NRCIEA） was established in 2009 on the basis of Beijing Research Center of Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture. According to the development trend of world Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture （lEA） and China＇s needs of modern agriculture, NRCIEA is engaged in solving the key, fundamental and common technical problems in lEA.

China National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture

China National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture （NERCITA） was established in 2001 with the approval of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. As a national research institution, it mainly engages in research and development of agricultural and rural informatization engineering technology. Based on the requirements of agricultural and rural development of China, the major mission of NERCITA is to make key technology innovation, establish technical platform and develop significant products for agriculture, which focus on five aspects： intelligent information processing technology, remote sensing and geographic information system, precision agriculture, biological environment control engineering and automation technology as well as fast detection techniques of agricultural product security and the monitoring technology of farmland environmental quality. The ultimate goal is to provide a powerful technological support for agricultural modernization and rural development.

Challenges and Countermeasures for the Sustainable Development of Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in China

In 2012 the Ministry of Agriculture of China launched a project exploring Nationaly Important Agricultural Heritage Systems （China-NIAHS）. Through two rounds of applications and selection in 2012 and 2013, 39 traditional agricultural systems were selected and designated as China-NIAHS, including 19 forestry systems, 14 planting systems, four agricultural complex systems and two other systems. From a system origin perspective there were 24 agricultural systems, some dating back 1000 years. Twenty heritage systems are located in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities. Agricultural heritage systems face general challenges, such as ecosystem degradation and destruction, loss and abandonment of traditional agricultural technologies and landscapes, lagging agriculture scale and industrialization, and limited farmer beneift-sharing and incentives. Compared to other types of heritage, the conservation and development of agricultural heritage systems is more complex and dififcult. In order to achieve sustainable development of agricultural heritage systems, the government should play a leading role and improve ifnancial support functions. Local people should also explore market-oriented approaches and adaptive management methods on protection and development of NIAHS. Multi-participation and beneift-sharing mechanisms should be established and basic research needs to be strengthened.

中国重要农业文化遗产的空间分布特征及其差异性管理策略

Climate change and rapid urbanization pose significant challenges to the conservation and management of agricultural heritage systems,including decline in agricultural land,loss of labor,and ecosystem degradation.Although existing studies have proposed general strategies with theoretical guidance and specific strategies for particular systems to promote the conservation of agricultural heritage systems,there remains a large knowledge gap in effective and differentiated management strategies at the regional level.This is especially so in China because of the clear regional differences in the natural and socioeconomic conditions of the widely distributed China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(China-NIAHS).In this study,we integrated multi-source data and spatial analysis to reveal the distribution characteristics of existing China-NIAHS and proposed differentiated management strategies.Results show that there are four clustering distribution zones of China-NIAHS,i.e.,the northwest clustering zone west of the Heihe-Tengchong Line(ZoneⅠ),the clustering belt with‘Northeast-Hebei-Shandong'as core(ZoneⅡ),the Yangtze River Delta clustering zone(ZoneⅢ),and the Hunan-Chongqing-Yunnan-Guizhou clustering zone(ZoneⅣ).Different management strategies are proposed for the China-NIAHS in each clustering zone.Specifically,ZoneⅠshould focus on maintaining their ecological functions and services,while ZoneⅡshould aim for livelihood supply,sustainable resource use,and ecological protection.For ZoneⅢ,rapid urbanization could become a positive driving force for China-NIAHS conservation through sustainable tourism and reasonable urban zoning.ZoneⅣshould emphasize the mutual support between characteristic product development and the brand effect of the China-NIAHS.These findings will help establish regional and targeted management strategies for China-NIAHS and provide a reference for the conservation of agricultural heritage systems in other countries.

Responding to common questions on the conservation of agricultural heritage systems in China

Although the urgency of their conservation has been recognized, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS) designated by the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) since 2002 and China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(ChinaNIAHS) certified by the Ministry of Agriculture(MOA) of China since 2012 are faced with questions as to why to conserve them, what is to be conserved, who should conserve them, and how? This paper attempts to clarify and respond to such questions focusing on the conservation of agricultural heritage systems in China based on a review of both theoretical and practical progress. Agricultural heritage systems exhibit a multitude of values for sustainable and equitable development and therefore should be conserved for both present and future generations. Unlike most conventional heritages, the conservation of agricultural heritage systems is a complex, systematic "engineering" in which both physical and biological components and associated socio-cultural processes should be conserved in a dynamic way. Farmers and heritage sites must benefit from the continuance of traditional agricultural production under the premise of ecological functions being sustained and traditional culture being inherited. For a more effective conservation, a multi- stakeholder process should be established involving governments at different levels, multi-disciplinary scientists, communities and farmers, and business enterprises as well as social organizations. As has been demonstrated, the conservation of agricultural heritage systems aims to promote the regional sustainable development, to improve the livelihood, food security and well-being of farm people, and to provide references for the development of modern agriculture in China.

The Concept, Connotation and Significance of Cultural Keystone Species in Agricultural Heritage Systems

As a new type of heritage, Agricultural Heritage Systems(AHS), represented by Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS) designated by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO)and Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(NIAHS) designated by some countries’ Ministry of Agriculture, are typical Social-Ecological Systems(SES), which usually are rich in biodiversity, traditional knowledge,resource utilization technology and outstanding cultural landscapes. Cultural Keystone Species(CKS) are defined as the culturally salient species that shape the cultural identity of a people in a major way. CKS can be used as a prominent tool for the synergistic conservation of SES biology and culture, and to promote the overall enhancement of system functions. This paper summarizes a review of the definition of the CKS and its application in SES conservation. According to the characteristics and protection needs of AHS, this paper defined the CKS in AHS as:“Composites of biological resources and cultural practices, which have a significant impact on the stability of local society and culture systems, contribute to the achievement of AHS’ conservation goals.” Based on this definition,we analyzed the significance of the identification of CKS in AHS. First of all, CKS help to quickly identify the key elements of AHS. Secondly, CKS can promote community participation in the conservation and development of AHS. In addition, the identification of CKS has a significant role in food and livelihood security, biodiversity conservation, traditional knowledge and technology transmission, social organization maintenance, and cultural landscape maintenance in AHS, which helps to achieve the conservation goals of GIAHS and/or NIAHS.

Conservation of the Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in the Economically Developed Area:Experiences,Problems and Solutions——A Case Study of Zhejiang Province

Zhejiang Province,located in the Yangtze River Delta region,is representative of China’s economically developed areas.It enjoys superior natural conditions and a long history of agriculture,and is a comprehensive agricultural area with integrated development of agriculture,forestry,animal husbandry and fishery.It has nurtured the farming culture represented by Hemudu culture and Liangzhu culture,which have given rise to numerous precious Agricultural Heritage Systems.At present,Zhejiang Province has three of the world’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS)and 12 China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(China-NIAHS),so it not only has the largest number of heritages in China,but it has also attained remarkable achievements in heritage conservation.Taking Zhejiang Province as an example in combination with the rural revitalization strategy,this paper summarizes the achievements in the protection of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(IAHS)in Zhejiang Province during the past 15 years from the aspects of increasing farmers’income,cultural Inheritance and industrial upgrading,as well as the conservation experiences in government promotion,community initiative,enterprise participation,technology driving and social linkage.Further,in view of the problems that exist in the current heritage protection,such as imperfect management of heritage sites,low participation of community residents,lack of special protection funds,and imperfect provincial management system,the following countermeasures and suggestions are put forward:(1)Improve the management mechanism for the conservation and development of Agricultural Heritage Systems;(2)Develop regional public branding of agricultural products in Agricultural Heritage System sites;(3)Increase the Agricultural Heritage System science education as well as cultural and creative product development;(4)Carry out the evaluation and recognition of IAHS at the provincial level;and(5)Provide substantial support and input to the conservation and utilization of IAHS.This study can provide some guidance for the conservation of IAHS in Zhejiang Province and it provides important reference for IAHS in the economically developed areas in China.

Agri-cultural Heritage:An Interdisciplinary Field with Development Prospects

Traditional agricultural heritage research has a very long history.Programme on"The conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS)"initiative launched by FAO in 2002,aimed at not only preserving agricultural heritage system,but also applying the principle of dynamic conservation to promote rural development to benefit local community,to assure food security and maintaining the ecosystem.Since then,many more scientists have been enrolled in the new field focusing on the function and value,application and management,conservation and development and other aspects of these traditional agricultural systems which facilitate an emerging cross-discipline.In this paper,based on the concepts and characteristics of GIAHS and China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(China-NIAHS),the author specifies that Agri-cultural Heritage is a compound heritage that integrates the characteristics of natural,cultural and intangible cultural heritage,and a typical social-economic-natural complex ecosystem composed of economic,biological,technological,cultural and landscape components.For their conservation and development,the joint efforts of scientists from economics,ecology,geography,history,management sciences,culturology,ethnology,sociology and other subjects are needed.Based on progresses studies and perspectives of the field,the author felt that although a good start of the research on Agri-cultural Heritage has been made,there is still much room for development which show a steady growth trend and suggested 32 priority areas in research;a new subject of Agroheritology could emerge in the near future.

Calculation of Ecological Compensation Standards for the Kuancheng Traditional Chestnut Cultivation System

Kuancheng Traditional Chestnut Cultivation System is located in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Water Containment Function Area.The Traditional Chestnut Cultivation System is characterized by agroforestry compound,and some studies have shown that the compound planting of chestnut has better ecological benefits than the single chestnut planting mode.However,most of the local farmers in Kuancheng are mainly engaged in single chestnut cultivation.Through ecological compensation,farmers are being encouraged to change their chestnut planting mode,which can achieve the purpose of inheriting China’s important agricultural heritage and improving the ecological benefits.This paper introduces preference coefficients to correct for opportunity costs,and through interviews and questionnaires,we obtained the input and output of the single chestnut cultivation,chestnut-maitake,chestnut-millet,and chestnut-chicken and the income of laborers working outside the home in the Kuancheng area.Through analysis and calculation,we obtained the following results:(1)Although the net income of the three chestnut composite modes is higher,their economic input is higher than that of a single chestnut planting mode,and the return on unit investment is lower.(2)The average income of young and middle-aged workers who work outside is higher than that of the local farming industry,so the local chestnut agroforestry plantation has a higher opportunity cost.(3)The final calculation shows that the chestnut-chicken agroforestry operation mode needs no compensation,the chestnut-maitake plantation mode is compensated at least 1608.5 USD ha^(-1) yr^(-1),and the minimum compensation for the chestnut-millet plantation mode is 198.3 USD ha^(-1) yr^(-1),which can guarantee that farmers receive the full value of their creations.Ultimately,farmers are incentivized to revive the traditional agroforestry production mode to achieve both economic and ecological benefits while inheriting agricultural heritage.

The Role of Local Knowledge in the Risk Management of Extreme Climates in Local Communities:A Case Study in a Nomadic NIAHS Site

In the context of climate change,research on extreme climates and disaster risk management has become a crucial component of climate change adaptation.Local communities,which have been facing extreme climates for a long time in their production and daily life,have developed some locally applicable traditional knowledge that has played an important role in their adaptation to extreme climate and disaster risk management.Therefore,this research aims to link Local knowledge(LK)to community extreme climate disaster risk management in order to construct a conceptual model.It then takes the extreme climate adaptation strategy of traditional nomads in a temperate grassland of China as an example to analyze the role of LK in extreme climate adaptation using the proposed theoretical framework.The main research objectives of this study are:(1)To construct a conceptual model to illustrate the relations among extreme climate events,risk management,LK,and farmers’adaptation strategies;(2)To apply the theoretical framework to a field case to reveal context-specific extreme climate adaptation mechanisms with LK as a critical component;(3)To test the framework and provide suggestions for the extreme climates adaptation,and the conservation of LK related to climate change adaptation.The results show that from the perspective of disaster risk management,local communities could manage extreme climates as a disaster risk through adaptation strategies formed from LK,because as a knowledge system,LK contains relevant knowledge covering the whole process of disaster risk management.

Progresses and Perspectives of the Resource Evaluation Related to Agri-cultural Heritage Tourism

The scientific evaluation of tourism resources is not only an important prerequisite for the development of agri-cultural heritage tourism(AHT),but it can also promote the conservation and management of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(IAHS).With the goal of providing scientific support for the sustainable management of tourism resources,this review systematically analyzes the overall situation,research regions,developmental timeline trends,key fields and hot topics of resource evaluation research related to AHT over 2005–2020.With a comprehensive perspective that incorporates both traditional literature review and quantitative literature review,the study revealed four important aspects of AHT research.(1)Relevant articles could be divided into two phases,a development-oriented period(2005–2012)and a conservation-oriented period(2013–2020).(2)GIAHS accounts for the absolute majority(about 66.7%)of relevant studies.In particular,Longji Terraces System,Hani terraces system and Dong’s Rice-Fish-Duck System were the research hotspots IAHS,and Yunnan,Zhejiang and Guangxi were the research hotspot provinces.(3)Terraced landscapes and tea culture were the most popular themes in tourism resource evaluation,while sports tourism,tea culture tourism and study tours are becoming the new trends in IAHS sites.(4)Research methods have undergone a shift from qualitative to quantitative approaches,and a combination of these two in an interdisciplinary manner is becoming a new research trend.By reviewing and prospecting the relevant literature,this study not only makes a unique contribution to the tourism resource evaluation of IAHS,but also helps to enrich the relevant evaluation theories and further promote the sustainable development of heritage tourism from theoretical and methodological perspectives.