Water quality, agriculture and food safety in China:Current situation, trends, interdependencies, and management

Water quality in China is becoming a severe challenge for agriculture and food safety, and it might also impact health of population via agriculture and food. Thus, it is causing widespread concern. Based on extensive literatures review and data mining, current situation of water pollution in China and its effects on food safety were analyzed. The 2nd National Water Resource Survey in China show that the surface water all over the country was under slight pollution and about 60% of groundwater is polluted. Drinking water quality is basically guaranteed in urban area but it is worrisome in rural areas. In addition, China is the largest consumer of fertilizer and pesticide in the world and the amounts of application still show increasing trends. Fertilizers and pesticides are the most important sources of pollution, which affect human health as persistent organic pollutants and environmental endocrine disruptors. Eutrophication of surface water and nitrate pollution of groundwater are serious threats to drinking water safety. Sewage irrigation is becoming a pollution source to China＇s water and land because of lacking of effective regulations. Although, with the advance in technology and management level, control of nitrogen and phosphorus emissions and reducing water pollution is still a major challenge for China.

China’s Potential of Grain Production Due to Changes in Agricultural Land Utilization in Recent Years

The changes in utilization of agricultural land have gradually grown into one of the major factors impacting grain output in China. This study explores the various components of agricultural production in China from the land utilization perspective, involving changes in grain production per unit area, multi-cropping index, and adjustment of agricultural structure. Compared with the record values, different research methodologies are used to analyze the po- tential of above three components. The results indicate that grain production potential of 65.68×109kg was unexploited in 2006, in which 45.8×109kg came from the restructuring in agriculture. So we can infer that the reduction of grain production in China could be primarily attributed to agricultural restructuring in recent years. So the productive poten- tial can be fully restored by increasing agricultural investment, or recovering agricultural structure in favorable condi- tions. So we can say that China’s current condition of food security is good.

Analysis of the System of Direct Subsidy for Grain Production in China

This paper introduces the status quo of the system structure of direct subsidy for grain production in China,and analyses the function and essence of direct subsidy for grain production in China as follows:the function of direct subsidy for grain production in China is to protect and promote the development of food industry,ensure food supply and national food security,protect grain growers' interests,and maintain the dominant position of national food trade;the essence of direct subsidy for grain production is the compensation for grain producers' reasonable interests,the compensation for positive externality of grain production,and social costs of adjusting equilibrium between food supply and demand.We discuss the problems existing in the system of direct subsidy for grain production in China and put forward corresponding countermeasures as follows:first,adhere to improving synergetic system of direct subsidy for grain production;second,adjust the direct subsidy method of grain production;third,establish long-term mechanism of subsidy for grain production;fourth,promote the information-based service level of the system of direct subsidy for grain production.

Agricultural Production Structure Optimization: A Case Study of Major Grain Producing Areas, China

A large number of mathematical models were developed for supporting agricultural production structure optimization decisions; however, few of them can address various uncertainties existing in many factors （e.g., eco-social benefit maximization, food security, employment stability and ecosystem balance）. In this study, an interval-probabilistic agricultural production structure optimization model （IPAPSOM） is formulated for tackling uncertainty presented as discrete intervals and/or probability distribution. The developed model improves upon the existing probabilistic programming and inexact optimization approaches. The IPAPSOM considers not only food security policy constraints, but also involves rural households’income increase and eco-environmental conversation, which can effectively reflect various interrelations among different aspects in an agricultural production structure optimization system. Moreover, it can also help examine the reliability of satisfying （or risk of violating） system constraints under uncertainty. The model is applied to a real case of long-term agricultural production structure optimization in Dancheng County, which is located in Henan Province of Central China as one of the major grain producing areas. Interval solutions associated with different risk levels of constraint violation are obtained. The results are useful for generating a range of decision alternatives under various system benefit conditions, and thus helping decision makers to identify the desired agricultural production structure optimization strategy under uncertainty.

Optimization of compression formulation and load of food-grade tracers for grain traceability using central composite design

Food-grade tracers have been developed as an identification technology for grain traceability from original harvest to final destination for transportation.The characteristics of food-grade tracers must be able to satisfy the environmental demands for grain traceability.To optimize the food-grade tracer production process,the effects of direct compression formulation and load on the mechanical characteristics were studied using response surface methodology(RSM)with central composite design(CCD).Among the four tested formulations,Formulations#2(consisting of 35.00%lactose 100 mesh,64.50%microcrystalline cellulose 102 and 0.50%magnesium stearate)and#4(consisting of 38.00%lactose 100 mesh,50.00%microcrystalline cellulose 102,11.00%pregelatinized starch and 1.00%magnesium stearate)were selected for tracer production based on their physical properties as powders.The value of Carr’s flowability index was 68 for both Formulations#2 and#4,which was the highest among all the formulations.Therefore,Formulations#2 and#4 also had the best powder flowability.The magnesium stearate ratio(1.00%-3.00%)and pressure(6.00-16.00 kgf)were used as independent variables to detect changes in the breaking rate,peak shear force and friction coefficient of tracers compressed by the selected formulations.The optimal production parameters could be achieved at a magnesium stearate ratio of 2.25%and pressure of 16.00 kgf for Formulation#2 and at a magnesium stearate ratio of 1.02%and pressure of 16.00 kgf for Formulation#4.Under these optimal conditions,the tracers had good impact characteristics(breaking rate),compression characteristics(peak shear force)and frictional characteristics(friction coefficient).Moreover,Formulation#2 was more suitable for production because compared to Formulation#4,its breaking rate and friction coefficient values were lower,and its peak shear force value was higher.

Food safety controls in different governance structures in China's vegetable and fruit industry

Food safety issues constitute an international topic discussed by many scholars. Although there is an extensive body of literature on comparisons of food safety control practices across different governance structures, these studies have been conducted mainly in terms of qualitative and descriptive analysis. In addition, little attention has been given to family farms. This study addresses the food safety control practices adopted by firms with different governance structures in China. Food safety control is expressed by the following aspects, i.e., pollution-free, green, organic, and/or geographical indication prod- ucts certification, establishment of production records, and pesticide residue testing. Three types of governance structures that engage in agricultural production are distinguished： farmer cooperatives, agricultural companies, and family farms. The food safety control practices of various governance structures are investigated based on a database that comprises 600 vegetable and fruit enterprises in Zhejiang, China. The results show that （1） pesticide residue testing is adopted by the most firms, followed by products certification, and production records are adopted by the fewest firms, and （2） agricul- tural companies adopt more food safety control practices than family farms, while farmer cooperatives adopt the fewest food safety control practices. Governance structure features of a cooperative in terms of ownership, decision-making, and income distribution are the main reasons for the low level of food safety control in the cooperative.

Challenges of agriculture and food systems issues in China and the United States

China and the United States are the two most significant nations in the contemporary global food and agricultural network.In addition,they are two of the most important innovators with respect to the development of new crop varieties,agro-technologies,farm products,markets and consumer issues,such as consumer resistance to genetically modified foods,among others.In the face of an ever-complex web of interactions,technologies and products among producers and consumers in both nations,there are far more structural similarities than differences in the food and agriculture sectors of these two nations.This essay,adopting some of the themes of the Sino-American Symposium on Future Issues Affecting Quality of Life,presents a limited but representative comparative assessment of three of the most important shared challenges impacting the agricultural sectors of China and the United States for the period from 2000 to the present including 1)environmental challenges related to agricultural water supply,2)declines in farm labor and rural population,and 3)growing food-related concerns and challenges.For both nations,excessive and unsustainable groundwater consumption has lowered water tables and limited crop production.Rural populations and farm workforces in both nations are also declining,leading to labor challenges in both nations.Finally,concerns regarding food safety are also very similar with major challenges to the farm sector associated with consumer resistance to genetically modified food crops and sanitation issues linked to lengthening supply chains.All of these issues threaten the development of sustainable agricultural production systems.

Evaluating the Impacts of Food Safety Policies on Japan's Rice Imports Based on the Simultaneous Buy and Sell System

This study evaluated the impacts of food safety policies on Japan's Simultaneous Buy and Sell rice imports through measuring tariff equivalents of food safety policies.In order to construct an estimated model,a Japanese consumer's utility function is introduced and developed with consumer's preference parameters and elasticity of substitution.In the empirical study part,Japan's positive list system and rice traceability were analyzed and assessed as critical food safety policies.Results showed that after the implementation of the positive list system,consumers'preference for foreign rice and the substitution elasticity diminished.This decreasing tendency was quite similar to the results after the enforcement of rice traceability.The tariff equivalents of food safety policies on imported rice fluctuated around ¥50 yen/kg from fiscal year 2000 to 2005 and decreased because of the global grain price hike after 2006.The tariff equivalents soared in 2010,which was induced by the traceability regulation,and then dulled during Japan's earthquake and tsunami in 2011.Subsequently,after the recovery from natural disasters,the tariff equivalents of food safety policies became higher.Therefore,food safety policies had made imported rice less attractive,weakened the competitive power of rice exporting countries,and had statistically significant impacts on Japan's rice importation.

The transformation of agriculture in China: Looking back and looking forward

China’s grain yield increased from 1 t hain 1961 to 6 t hain 2015, while successfully feeding not only its large population but also supplying agricultural products all over the world. These achievements were greatly supported by modern technology and distinct governmental policy. However, China’s grain production has been causing a number of problems mainly related to declining natural resources and a lack of environmental protection. Due to the growing population and changing dietary requirements, increasing food production must be achieved by increasing resource use efficiency while minimizing environmental costs. We propose two novel development pathways that can potentially sustain agricultural crop production in the next few decades:(i) enhancing nutrient use efficiency with zero increase in chemical fertilizer input until 2020 and(ii) concurrently increasing grain yield and nutrient use efficiency for sustainable intensification with integrated nutrient management after 2020. This paper provides a perspective on further agricultural developments and challenges, and useful knowledge of our valuable experiences for other developing countries.

Review of Food Safety Supervision for the Wholesale Market of Chinese Agricultural Products

With the continuous improvement of living standards, there is an increasingly concerned about food quality and safety issues. Especially in recent years,food safety incidents, breaking out frequently, have become the focus of people＇s attention, putting forward new demands on the regulation of food safety. This paper reviewed the Food Safety Supervision in China from food safety supervision mode,regulatory system defects and circulation supervision system, and also proposed the future research trends of food safety regulations for the wholesale market of Chinese agricultural products.

Has“Grain for Green”threaten food security on the Loess Plateau of China?

There is debating over the question of whether the large-scale‘Grain for Green’program on the Loess Plateau of China threatens regional food security.Self-sufficiency index and cropland pressure index were used to assess food security on the Loess Plateau after the implementation of revegetation program.The results showed that the‘Grain for Green’program initially had a considerable impact on regional food security,where grain yield fell from 1999 to 2001,resulting in a lower grain self-sufficiency and increased farmland stress.Subsequently,grain yield in this region increased due to the elevated agricultural material input and increased construction of terraces and check dams.The grain self-sufficiency index would have increased to 96.55%if there were improvements to the agricultural conditions,such as fertilization and irrigation,which would have resulted in an increase in the crop yield per unit of 20%.However,the grain self-sufficiency increased to 105.25%via the construction of terraces and check dams.Thus,the government should further expand the‘Grain for Green’program in coordination with improvements to the agricultural production conditions and the construction of terraces and check dams on the Loess Plateau.

Intellectual Property Protection,Inheritance,Innovation and Development of Woody Edible Oilseeds in Hubei Province

Only by developing woody edible oilseeds industry can we ensure the safety of the important industrial chain and supply chain of vegetable edible oil in China.There are 13 kinds of woody edible oil plants in Hubei,including Camellia oleifera Abel(oil tea),Juglans regia L.(walnut),Olea europaea L.(olive)and Paeonia suffruticosa(oil peony).This paper studies the main industries of woody edible oilseeds in Hubei Province and their intellectual property resources,and analyzes the main problems in their intellectual property protection,inheritance,innovation and development.Finally,it proposes some strategies,including carrying forward the traditional knowledge related to woody edible oilseeds,innovating the"agricultural chip",creating key counties of national woody edible oil seeds,and developing industrial clusters with national advantages and characteristics.

Analysis on the Water-saving Irrigation Technique Based on the Perspective of Food Safety

The paper analyzed the important role of water saving in protecting the food safety,introduced the present development of agricultural water-saving technique,pointed out the potential risks of water resources,and proposed the future development of water-saving irrigation.

The Risk of <i>Fusarium</i>and Their Mycotoxins in the Food Chain

Fusarium sp. and mycotoxins of these species pose a major risk to consumer health, agriculture and the food industry. This paper is a worldwide bibliographic study on impact of Fusarium and mycotoxins on the food chain. The factors influencing the development of fungi Fusarium sp., the formation of mycotoxins and their microbiological risk on the food chain must be considered as a whole. For cereals and oilseeds before and after harvest, fungal infections and mycotoxin contamination present serious problems worldwide. This paper is an overview of the factors that include the microbiological risk and impact of Fusarium in the food chain mentioned in national and international studies. The methods and results obtained in this direction internationally are mentioned, such as: infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectrometry and hyperspectral imaging. Also, in review are presented solutions to reduce this impact on the food chain.

基于农产品进出口贸易视角的农业机械化发展研究

为推进全程全面绿色高效农业机械化发展,基于农产品进出口贸易的视角分析农业机械化存在的短板弱项问题。目前我国农业存在贸易逆差逐年增加、主要农产品贸易逆差扩大、劳动密集型农产品比较优势逐渐消失、主要农产品自给率较低等发展现状。在农业机械化方面,小农经济及二元经济结构现状制约着适度规模经营的发展进度,农业规模化种植的生产效益还未充分体现;全程全面高质高量农业机械还不充分;全程农业机械化种植农艺技术推广应用还需加强。农业机械化发展应立足于保障粮食安全与提高农业经营主体经济效益的基本定位,关键在于提高农产品生产效率,改善农产品质量,提高农产品国际竞争力。基于上述分析,提出推进适度规模经营、推动短板弱项农业装备创新发展、优化农业机械化支持政策、推进先进适用农艺技术推广应用、强化农产品初加工装备研发及推广等发展建议。

农业新质生产力发展与大国粮食安全保障——兼论“靠什么种粮”“怎样种粮”“谁来种粮”

农业是新质生产力发展的重要领域,大国粮食安全保障需要通过生产力的跃升解决未来“靠什么种粮”“怎样种粮”“谁来种粮”问题。必须基于大国农业劳动对象、劳动资料和劳动者的实际状况,结合农业产业特性和粮食安全保障的要求,重构农业科技创新体系和现代农业产业体系,推动农业新质生产力形成和发展。新时代大国粮食安全仍面临诸多挑战,对耕地和种子、关键核心技术和科技创新能力、农业劳动者的知识和技能都提出了更高的要求。确保大国粮食安全需要牢牢把握高质量发展首要任务,以科技创新和产业创新补齐发展中的短板,促进农业劳动对象、劳动资料和劳动者发生质的跃升,推动形成农业新质生产力以构建保障大国粮食安全的长效机制。为此,要不断深化、拓展和提升农业劳动对象,以机械化、数字化、智能化对农业劳动资料进行适宜性、革命性改造,打通农业发展的堵点卡点,让农业新质生产力发展成为解决“靠什么种粮”“怎样种粮”“谁来种粮”问题的关键力量。

我国重要农产品供需变化趋势与供给保障能力提升策略

基于对我国重要农产品生产、消费和进口历史变化情况的分析,以及对2035年前变化趋势的预测,认为我国重要农产品供给保障面临国内增产边际效应递减和利用国际市场风险增大的双重挑战,应从统筹国内和国际两个大局、发展和安全两件大事出发,谋划好现代化新征程重要农产品供给保障思路。一方面,应从供需两侧入手扩产能、控消费,构建农业综合生产能力内在增长机制,针对农民务农种粮和地方重农抓粮逻辑采取差异化扶持政策,推进节粮减损、倡导节约消费;另一方面,应实施农产品进口多元化战略,提高海外供应链稳定性可靠性;此外,还应推动建立统一、联动的全国农产品大市场,完善农产品储备调节制度。

全方位夯实粮食安全根基——主要指标及关联程度测度分析

文章理论阐释全方位夯实粮食安全根基的政策涵义,构建四维度34个指标的粮食安全根基综合评价指标体系。基于2011—2021年时间序列数据,文章采用牛顿第二定律、灰色关联度等模型,揭示各指标对粮食安全根基的驱动力强弱,测度各指标与粮食安全根基的关联程度及关键指标的变化趋势。研究发现,在夯实粮食安全根基的驱动力作用下,耕地保护和科技支撑起到正向作用,党政同责夯实的作用呈波动趋势,而种粮收益则表现为负向作用。应稳定党政同责保障粮食安全的作用,逐步将支持的重点转向农业科技进步,通过科技支撑带动耕地保护程度和种粮收益水平持续提高。我国粮食安全根基综合指数呈“W”形变动,但科技支撑指数呈现的复杂趋势和种粮收益指数相对稳定在较低水平的态势要引起重视。未来耕地质量和科技支撑对粮食安全的作用将不断增强,要重点防范耕地数量逐渐减少和“谁来种粮”问题带来的粮食安全风险。

福建富硒红壤区土壤硒含量特征及作物对硒的吸收

在调查我国南方红壤区土壤及农产品中硒含量状况的基础上,分析了富硒红壤中硒的分布特征及其所产农产品中硒含量的变化规律。结果表明:我国南方富硒红壤面积较大,但在地理空间分布上具有一定破碎度;土壤中的硒虽伴生一定量的重金属和稀土等元素,但与重金属或稀土元素的相关性不大;在富硒土壤上生产的农作物总体表现为可食部位的硒含量低于非可食部位的,并且农作物中的硒含量与土壤有效态硒含量相关性显著。依据我国南方富硒红壤区土壤自身特性,可以通过调控富硒红壤区农田土壤的酸碱度、水分含量、施肥种类、施用调理剂等来提高土壤硒的有效性,达到农产品中硒含量增加的目的;同时,对外源补硒的技术和相应农产品硒的健康效应,需进一步研究与规范。

劳动力转移影响粮食生产韧性的理论机制与实证检验

在测度粮食生产韧性的基础上,利用2008—2021年中国省际面板数据,选择固定效应模型与中介效应模型,实证检验了农业劳动力非农转移对粮食生产韧性的影响及其可能机制。研究结果表明,农业劳动力非农转移能显著提升粮食生产韧性。机制验证发现,农业劳动力非农转移主要通过推动农地适度规模经营来提高粮食生产韧性。异质性分析发现,在粮食主产区和地形起伏较小的北方地区,农业劳动力非农转移对粮食生产韧性的提升作用更为显著。据此,应鼓励农业劳动力非农转移,建立并完善农地流转市场交易体系,推动农地适度规模经营和农户种粮收益上升,以有效提升粮食增产、提质与增效的内源动力和韧性水平。