Diversification and Sustainable Development in Chinese Agriculture

Feeding a growing population exceeding 1 billion is a big challenge to the Chinese government and has partly led to the self-sufficient policy in grain production and supply for decades. However, the efforts to push grain production everywhere have resulted in not only deterioration of the environment but also stagnation or even reduction in farmers' income as production costs continue to increase. This situation might be worsening after China's accession to the WTO that provides market access for bulk commodity imports. A sustainable development in Chinese agriculture depends on diversification, or structural adjustment, that allows Chinese farmers to fully utilize their comparative advantage in production of labor-intensive goods. Past experience has shown that diversification has contributed more than a half of the growth in Chinese agriculture during the reform period and reduced stresses on the environment at the same time. It is likely to contribute even more to Chinese agriculture in the future

Assessing Agricultural Sustainable Development Based on the DPSIR Approach: Case Study in Jiangsu, China

According to the contemporary ecosystem approach, the linkages of human actions with their environment have to be assessed in an integrative manner. The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response （DPSIR） model is applied to identify and describe processes and interactions in human-environmental systems. An example application from a research project dealing with the development of sustainable management strategies for the agriculture in Jiangsu, China, illustrates the potentials and limitations of its sustainable development. The concept and indicators of ecological integrity are used to assess the indicators in the dimensions of DPSIR between 2003 and 2006. The main drivers included population growth which caused increasing demand for food, growing environmental demands, and rapidly decreasing of land and other natural resources. The main environmental problem was water pollution. The results show that in the dimension of driver, total grain output and agricultural land productivity both increased. Labor intensive agriculture has been promoted to increase agricultural land productivity. In the dimension of pressure, on the positive side, infrastructure got greatly improved, the input level such as total power of machinery, and level of fertilizer use increased, and level of pesticides use decreased, but on the negative side, cultivated land per capita and irrigation rate decreased, natural resources keep decreased. Environmental pollution indicators such as industrial wastewater discharge and acid rain rate increased in Jiangsu Province. In the aspect of state, ecosystem state was improved, plant coverage index increased, biological abundance index increased, fertilizer productivity increased, eco-environmental quality index increased, but land degradation index also increased. In the aspect of impact, output level increased, output efficiency enhanced, farmer＇s social economic benefit improved. In the aspect of response, social support was greatly improved, input for environmental governance increased. To assess the effects of environmental governance, Jiangsu government was successful to increase compliance rate of sulfur dioxide emissions, but not so efficient in compliance rate of industrial wastewater discharge.

Agro-ecological engineering in China: a way towards sustainable agriculture

Sustainable development, as a “hot topic”, concerns not only economic development but also environmental protection. Agriculture, the base of other economic activities, has faced many difficulties that include over growth population, land decrease, and land degradation and so on. Therefore, how to increase the food supply, to meet the over\|growth population demands, is the main task all over the world at present, especially in the developing countries, such as China, but we also must protect agricultural environment for medium\| and long\|term development simultaneously. Hence, sustainable development in agriculture is the most important estate that we must concern. Its sustainable development determines the sustainability of other economic development to a great extent. Despite Chinese government has paid much attention to develop agricultural production and obtained great successions, there are also many shortcomings in Chinese agriculture. Therefore, China must seek new approaches for its development and environmental protection that suit local conditions and are based on local resources. Agro ecological engineering, the application of ecological engineering in agriculture, is very thriving in China in recent decades. In this paper, the ecological, economic and social benefits of agro\|ecological engineering are analyzed. The principles are discussed. The results indicated that agro\|ecological engineering can meet the farmer′s short\|, medium\| and long\|term benefits. In the meanwhile, it also concerns not only economic benefits but ecological and social benefits. Therefore, agro\|ecological engineering is a way that leads to sustainable agriculture in the future in China.

Research on Climate Change and Countermeasure of Agriculture Sustainable Development

Based on the Fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) Assessment Report and meteorologists' research results of climate change in China,the influences of climate change on agricultural production were analyzed from the aspects of temperature,precipitation,sea-level rise and so on.Concrete measures were put forward to reply to climate change.According to the climate change trends,defensive measures were established to enhance the capacity of agriculture coping with climate change,making full use of advantages while avoiding disadvantages,in order to achieve sustainable development.

Organic Agriculture: The Inevitable Choice for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture

The current situation of farmland utilization in China was analyzed firstly, and then cost of fertilizer misuse leading to decrease of cultivat- ed land in quality was discussed. Finally, it is concluded that organic agriculture is the inevitable choice for the sustainable development of agricul- ture from the meaning, advantages and countermeasures of developing organic agriculture in China.

The Discussion on the Interaction and Integration of Modern Agriculture and Rural Tourism Sustainable Development

The thesis summarizes the connotation of rural tourism and divides it into six types,including rural sight-seeing,rural body-building activity,rural folk culture,rural experience of farm work,rural business affairs,and study and development.It outlines the theory of sustainable development of rural tourism and points out that what sustainable development of tourism concerns is the coordination of ecology,economy,and society centering on human and nature.On the basis of introducing the connotation of modern agriculture,it divides modern agriculture into six types,including sightseeing agriculture,leisure agriculture,green agriculture,characteristic agriculture,factory agriculture,and three-dimensional agriculture.And by concluding,it obtains the combination model of modern agriculture and rural tourism.Based on the introduction of the above related theories,the thesis discusses the interaction and integration model of the sustainable development of modern agriculture and rural tourism.It emphatically analyzes the integration model of modern agriculture and rural tourism,including pastoral agriculture tourism model(sightseeing village,leisure farm,citizen farm),and science education tourism model(agricultural science and technology education base,tourism and leisure education agricultural park,children's,agricultural education base,agricultural exposition).Based on the interaction and integration relationship between modern agriculture and rural tourism,the thesis puts forward corresponding countermeasures so as to promote their positive development and realize the maximum of ecological,social and economic benefits.

AN ASSESSMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPING CAPABILITY OF INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL REGIONALIZATION IN CHINA

Based on the provincial units evaluation, this paper makes an assessment forsustainable developing capability of the integrated agricultural regionalization in China. At first,an index system of agricultural sustainable development in China is built up, which includes 5supporting subsystems of agricultural resources, agricultural development, environment andecosystem, rural society, sciences-education and management. We selected 95 factors on provinciallevel as basic indexes. Second, a relative assets/debt assessing method is used to gain relative netassets values (relative superiority) of every provincial unit, which are as supporting data forassessment. We also overlaid the Administrative Divisions Map of China and the Map of IntegratedAgricultural Regionalization of China by Geography Information System (GIS) to gain the area unitsof assessment. Third, according to the relative coherence principle of regionalizaticn, we transformadministration units to natural units through homogenizing all provincial relative net assetsvalues in every agricultural assessing unit. After making order and grade, we complete thesustainable developing capability assessment to integrated agricultural regionalization in China.The assessing outcome shows that the total sustainable agricultural developing capability of Chinais not high. Only about 1 /3 in number or in area has reached the level of agricultural sustainabledevelopment. The relative net assets values exists a reducing trend from East China to West China.It needs a long period and great efforts to realize sustainable agricultural development over allChina. Finally, there is a discussion to the study method.

Agriculture in China——A Goal for Sustainability

China agriculture development, to some extent, is a reflection of China social development. Nowadays, China has goneglobal in industry, agriculture, technology, culture and education. However, China's agriculture development process is long per-ceived as a legend to outside world for unbelievable facts created after China launched its opening-up policy in 1978 and theHousehold Contract Responsibility System(HCRS) was formally established nationwide in 1981.

Cultural Landscape Evolution of Traditional Agricultural Villages in North China——Case of Qianzhai Village in Shandong Province

Agricultural village is an important rural type in China. The evolution process and mechanism of its cultural landscape are different from those of the industrialized village. The paper focuses this theme by a case study of Qianzhai Village of Qufu City, Shangdong Province. In the case of Qianzhai Village, the evolution of its settlement has experienced three stages: mechanical expansion, sprawling expansion and hollowing, and recentralization. The land- scape evolution of residents' houses has undergone three phases: traditional quadrangle house, one-storied house and multistoried house. The evolution of its land use has experienced three stages: circled stratification, fragment and intensive use, and concentration and extensive use. We can see that the main driving factors of cultural landscape evolu- tion of agricultural village are the changes of rural population, society, economy and culture, which are influenced by the change of urban-rural relation, the national modernization process and economic development, the reform of family planning and land system, and the changes in governmental policies. In the future, the modernization, ecological trend, and individualization for residents' houses of agricultural villages in China will develop step by step. The recentralization of settlement and the scaled, sustainable, intensive land use are likely to be the trends of agricultural villages in China.

Contrastive Research on Domestic and Foreign Ecological Agriculture Policies

In the first place,the definitions of ecological agriculture defined by scholars both at home and abroad are introduced.In the second place,the domestic and foreign ecological agriculture policies are expounded.Through contrastive research on the domestic and foreign ecological agriculture polices,the problems in the development of ecological agriculture in China are found.By mirroring the western experiences in developing ecological agriculture,the countermeasures and relevant suggestions are put forward from the perspective of government.The first one is to increase the subsidies from the government to ecological agriculture.The second one is to clarify the standard of ecological agriculture construction.The third one is to promote the industrialization of ecological agriculture.The fourth one is to strengthen the construction of ecological demonstration region and ecological village.

SEVERAL SCIENTIFIC PROBLEMS ON ECOLOGICAL SAFETY AND AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN WEST CHINA

The article addresses several scientific issues regarding the ecological safety and agricultural sustainable development in the west of China from the perspectives of system ecology and system eco economics, including the relationship between agricultural development and ecological construction, development based ecological balance, the relationship between ecological agriculture and agricultural modernization, and ecological rehabilitation.

DESIGNING DIVERSIFIED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN CHINA:THEORY,APPROACHES AND IMPLEMENTATION

Intensive agriculture in China over recent decades has successfully realized food security but at the expense of negative environmental impacts.Achieving green transformation of agriculture in China requires fundamental restructuring of cropping systems.This paper presents a theoretical framework of theory,approaches and implementation of crop diversification schemes in China.Initially,crop diversification schemes require identifying multiple objectives by simultaneously considering natural resources,limiting factors/constraints,and social and economic demands of different stakeholders.Then,it is necessary to optimize existing and/or design novel cropping systems based upon farming practices and ecological principles,and to strengthen targeted ecosystem services to achieve the identified objectives.Next,the resulting diversified cropping systems need to be evaluated and examined by employing experimental and modeling approaches.Finally,a strategic plan,as presented in this paper,is needed for implementing an optimized crop diversification in China based upon regional characteristics with the concurrent objectives of safe,nutritious food production and environmental protection.The North China Plain is used as an example to illustrate the strategic plan to optimize and design diversified cropping systems.The implementation of crop diversification in China will set an example for other countries undergoing agricultural transition,and contribute to global sustainable development.

Preliminary Understanding of ＂Agriculture is Permanent Petroleum of Sudan＂

＂Agriculture petroleum＂ theory was put forward by the Sudanese President, Mr. Bashir. To thoroughly understand his theory it is necessary to identify which countries＇ agriculture performed best in the world before and after the advent of petroleum. Reviews and international cooperation results conclude that the Chinese traditional agriculture was considered as one of the most sustainable agriculture in the world before petroleum and based on its experience of traditional agriculture updated with modem technology and equipment, China＇s modern agriculture achieves world famous accomplishment. Unlike in China, agriculture, especially conventional petroleum based agriculture causes problems all over the world. In contrast to petroleum, agriculture is a permanent industry, and if managed properly, it could bring sustainable prosperity to a country. Relying on unique natural resources, agriculture could bring Sudan permanent development and prosperity by learning from China＇s traditional agriculture experience and modern agriculture achievements. To introduce good and rapid agriculture development in Sudan, potentials and opportunities are analyzed, six suggestions are proposed： attracting foreign direct investment （FDI）, strengthening international cooperation, developing irrigated scale farming, paying high attention to planning, practicing the four combinations and changing views.

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.

RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF CROP PEST MONITORING AND EARLY WARNING TECHNOLOGY IN CHINA

The importance of food security,especially in combating the problem of acute hunger,has been underscored as a key component of sustainable development.Considering the major challenge of rapidly increasing demands for both food security and safety,the management and control of major pests is urged to secure supplies of major agricultural products.However,owing to global climate change,biological invasion(e.g.,fall armyworm),decreasing agricultural biodiversity,and other factors,a wide range of crop pest outbreaks are becoming more frequent and serious,making China,one of the world’s largest country in terms of agricultural production,one of the primary victims of crop yield loss and the largest pesticide consumer in the world.Nevertheless,the use of science and technology in monitoring and early warning of major crop pests provides better pest management and acts as a fundamental part of an integrated plant protection strategy to achieve the goal of sustainable development of agriculture.This review summarizes the most fundamental information on pest monitoring and early warning in China by documenting the developmental history of research and application,Chinese laws and regulations related to plant protection,and the National Monitoring and Early Warning System,with the purpose of presenting the Chinese model as an example of how to promote regional management of crop pests,especially of cross border pests such as fall armyworm and locust,by international cooperation across pest-related countries.

Research on Development Status and Countermeasures of Agricultural Cleaner Production

In the study,the connotation and objectives of agricultural cleaner production were introduced firstly,and then the development status of agricultural cleaner production in China was analyzed,and the problems existing in the development of agricultural cleaner production were pointed out.From the strategy of agricultural sustainable development,the necessity and feasibility of implementing agricultural cleaner production in China were discussed.Finally,some related countermeasures were put forward according to the problems existing in the development of agricultural cleaner production,so as to provide theoretical references for the realization of agricultural sustainable development in China.

地理学视角下中国农业功能研究进展与展望

伴随中国城镇化、工业化、市场化的快速推进及乡村振兴战略的深入实施,中国农业发展迈入转型升级的新时期。国内学者高度重视农业发展及农业产业为全社会所提供的服务,地理学者充分发挥学科优势,逐步融合多学科理论与方法针对农业功能的概念内涵、理论基础、分类体系、测度评价、时空过程、影响因素及优化路径等开展了诸多研究。文章通过梳理中国知网平台上近10年核心期刊中关于农业功能的学术论文,选取了151篇高质量文献进行研究,得到以下几点结果:1)地理学者聚焦于农业的生产功能、经济功能、及生态功能等方面研究,更加关注农业功能空间分布、地理特征及其与环境的关系;2)人地关系地域系统理论、农业多功能理论、农业区位理论和农业功能阶段论等是农业功能研究的基础,地理学者正不断完善和丰富农业功能相关理论;3)基于GIS和RS技术以及地理数学模型,地理学者进一步研究了农业功能的空间变化与地域特征;4)地理学者科学诊断了不同地理环境下各因子的作用方式、方向与强度,并针对地区地理环境与影响因子进行功能区划与优化;5)未来地理学视角下的农业功能研究需要进一步完善理论框架体系,推动多要素、多尺度、多目标的体系研究;聚焦农业功能转型,强化多学科、大数据、新技术手段的集成研究。

论中国生态农业建设的五个基本问题

在最近的10年间 ,中国生态农业建设迅速发展 ,现已成为中国农村发展中一个不可分割的重要部分。生态农业建设利用生态经济学原理及系统工程学方法进行农业规划、设计和管理 ,寻求农村持续、稳定、协调的发展。本文从资源管理的角度讨论了中国生态农业建设的5个基本问题 :经济规模、农民接受程度、市场、资金和可持续发展的方向。

中国旱灾农业承灾体脆弱性诊断与评价(英文)

旱灾是世界上影响面最广、造成农业损失最大的自然灾害类型,世界近一半的国家干旱严重。中国旱灾频繁,每年旱灾损失占各种自然灾害损失的15%以上,随着人口和农业的快速发展,农业承灾体脆弱性对灾情的放大也在增加。基于灾害系统理论,从致灾因子和耕地承灾体的区域组合角度,在旱灾频发高值区,选择雨养农业、灌溉农业和水田农业为主要承灾体类型,构建了农业旱灾脆弱性生产压力和生活压力,灾前—灾中易损性和灾中—灾后适应性等农业旱灾承灾体脆弱性诊断指标体系。提出脆弱性评价的区域模型,即:雨养农业的易损—适应模型(兴和)、灌溉农业的生产—生活压力模型(邢台)和水田农业的需水—灌水模型(鼎城)。基于农业承灾体脆弱性评价,提出制定适应降水变化的波动土地利用结构调整区域政策、建立农业生态—生产范式、建立“水银行”管理机制、建立用水效益和开源节流的评估体系以及加强“截水—抽水—控水”为一体的灌溉系统工程建设,提高灌溉应急能力等对策,以期为农业旱灾的防御和区域粮食安全决策提供科学依据。

我国东北地区农业功能区划研究

本文在分析农业功能区划分的指导思想、目标和原则的基础上,设置了农产品供给功能、就业和社会保障功能、文化功能、生态功能和障碍因素等5个农业功能分区指标组,采用逐步判别聚类法完成东北农业功能指标的空间聚类,将东北地区划分为东北平原国家农产品生产基地区、辽东城乡一体化发展区、农牧交错生态脆弱区、长白山老爷岭林地区、大小兴安岭林地区、呼伦贝尔草原牧区等6个农业功能区,并分析提出了各区功能定位和东北农业可持续发展政策建议。