Chinese Ecological Agriculture
With over 22% of the world’s population but less than 7% of the world’s arable land, the potential role of Chinese agriculture has important domestic and international implications (Shi, 2003).
Map courtesy of the University of Kansas
Why Ecological Agriculture? • Increased demand for food • Strengthen rural economy and increase rural income
• Response to rural environmental problems
(Shi, 2003)
The rise of a sustainable agricultural paradigm represents not only a philosophical shift, but also a process of change in which the utilization of resources, management of the environment, orientation of technical development and institutional arrangement are all directed towards harmonizing and enhancing both current and future generations to meet their needs and aspirations (Shi, 2003).
Rise of Ecological Agriculture • 4000 years of traditional agriculture, adapted for high population densities and diverse regional conditions
• Traditional practice abandoned since mid-twentieth century due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, and growing food demand
• 1980s- Government becomes concerned with agricultural economics,
rational natural resource use, environmental protection, population control
• 1992- Ecological Agriculture incorporated as a key national policy for China’s economic and social development
(Shi, 2003)
Characteristics of CEA Environmental • Combine sustainability and resource management of traditional practices and productivity of conventional agriculture
• Natural resource management and environmental protection (Shi, 2003)
Characteristics of CEA (cont.) Social/Economic • Integrates indigenous knowledge/practices and adapts to local ecological and cultural conditions • Prioritizes food security • Balances goals of self-sufficiency and market production • Promotes rural employment and income generation (alleviates rural poverty) (Shi, 2003)
Benefits of Traditional Agricultural Practices • Ecologically sound and sustainable • Produces high yields without environmental degradation
• Economically sustainable • Requires little capital input
• Socially sustainable • Promotes rural employment • Provides reliable, gainful income (Shi, 2003)
(Shi, 2003)
CEA Practices • • • • • • •
Intensive and meticulous farming
Irrigation Use of organic fertilizer Multiple cropping Intercropping and interplanting Biogas digestion of waste Edible mushroom production using crop and animal by-products
• Chicken waste used as swine feed (Shi, 2003; Xu, 2004)
• • • • • • • • •
Rice field fishery
Multi-layer fish culture Raising of natural enemies of pests Biological methods of erosion control Shelter forest belt building Rapid production of firewood Agroforestry techniques Biological waste-water treatment
Solar heating
(Xu, 2004)
Obstacles to Sustainable Agriculture in China • Engagement of local players who currently manage and organize populations
• Linking 200 million smallholder farmers with national/international markets
• Dependence on biomass for fuel-
competition for fuel, feed, fertilizer
• Keeping the rural economy going postindustrialization/urbanization
• Natural, SES and cultural diversity • Increasing food safety concerns (Shi, 2011; Xu, 2004)
Talking Points • Are sustainable, rural agricultural
development goals in conflict with China’s goals to urbanize?
• Similarities/differences between
China/USA’s modern urban agricultural movement • Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)
• Similarities/differences between
China/USA’s modern GMO movements