Organic Agriculture in China

Journal of environmental management, 2017

Organic agriculture has developed rapidly in China since the 1990s, driven by the increasing domestic and international demand for organic products. Quantification of the environmental benefits and production performances of organic agriculture on a national scale helps to develop sustainable high yielding agricultural production systems with minimum impacts on the environment. Data of organic production for 2013 were obtained from a national survey organized by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China. Farming performance and environmental impact indicators were screened and indicator values were defined based on an intensive literature review and were validated by national statistics. The economic (monetary) values of farming inputs, crop production and individual environmental benefits were then quantified and integrated to compare the overall performances of organic vs. conventional agriculture. In 2013, organically managed farmland accounted for approximately...

Organic agriculture has developed rapidly in China since the 1990s, driven by the increasing domestic and international demand for organic products. Quantification of the environmental benefits and production performances of organic agriculture on a national scale helps to develop sustainable high yielding agricultural production systems with minimum impacts on the environment. Data of organic production for 2013 were obtained from a national survey organized by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China. Farming performance and environmental impact indicators were screened and indicator values were defined based on an intensive literature review and were validated by national statistics. The economic (monetary) values of farming inputs, crop production and individual environmental benefits were then quantified and integrated to compare the overall performances of organic vs. conventional agriculture. In 2013, organically managed farmland accounted for approximately 0.97% of national arable land, covering 1.158 million ha. If organic crop yields were assumed to be 10% e15% lower than conventional yields, the environmental benefits of organic agriculture (i.e., a decrease in nitrate leaching, an increase in farmland biodiversity, an increase in carbon sequestration and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions) were valued at 1921 million RMB (320.2 million USD), or 1659 RMB (276.5 USD) per ha. By reducing the farming inputs, the costs saved was 3110 million RMB (518.3 million USD), or 2686 RMB (447.7 USD) per ha. The economic loss associated with the decrease in crop yields from organic agriculture was valued at 6115 million RMB (1019.2 million USD), or 5280 RMB (880 USD) per ha. Although they were likely underestimated because of the complex relationships among farming operations, ecosystems and humans, the production costs saved and environmental benefits of organic agriculture that were quantified in our study compensated substantially for the economic losses associated with the decrease in crop production. This suggests that payment for the environmental benefits of organic agriculture should be incorporated into public policies. Most of the environmental impacts of organic farming were related to N fluxes within agroecosystems, which is a call for the better management of N fertilizer in regions or countries with low levels of N-use efficiency. Issues such as higher external inputs and lack of integration cropping with animal husbandry should be addressed during the quantification of change of conventional to organic agriculture, and the quantification of this change is challenging.

Ecological Economics, 2010

Based on three case studies in China and Brazil, this paper explores the terms of access for farmers' participation in certified organic agriculture (OA) and investigates the influence of adoption on productivity, nutrient budgets, income and labour use. Small-scale farmers converting to OA require substantial external production-related, marketing and certification support. Access to OA was strongly dependent upon the type of support available to farmers. Organization based on a contract-farming model resulted in OA only being an option available to a narrow group of farmers, whilst OA initiated by a farmer cooperative provided better access. Gross output was significantly higher for oranges, whilst for the other crops gross output was similar. However, organic farmers in China felt that adoption had improved prices, incomes and market access. Farmers' perception of improved incomes is probably due to improved market access coupled with either a large production base, production intensification and production diversification. This study demonstrates that organization of farmers, and the manner in which this is structured, is crucial for external support to have an effect. Thus, OA may be a development path for small farmers if the supporting structures are provided at a small financial interest rate.

Currently in China the food safety issue and the environmental issue are arising, pushing customers towards more reliable products. In this field two voluntary standards have achieved resounding success in the PRC, from one side Organic Food, (有机食品, youji shipin), which is the Chinese equivalent of the international standards in the field, and from the other side “Green” Food, (绿色食品, lüse shipin), a Chinese unicum that could be considered a middle ground between Organic Food and Non-Organic Food. Given the emerging awareness in the Chinese consumer habits, green farming is having great success, but the legislation behind this phenomenon seems lacking, especially when it comes to its practical implementation. The study examines the normative concerning Organic Food and “Green” Food, with relevant examples of its enforcement and with a perspective toward the future of this growing market.

Ecological Economics, 2018

Organic agriculture can sustain rural development and ease poverty. However, whether it could be a viable pathway to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in the context of urbanisation and demographic change has been less studied. To understand this, household surveys were conducted in 2007 and 2014 in Wanzai, Jiangxi Province China, where organic farming started in 2000. The results show that organic farming did contribute to higher farm incomes for small-scale farmers (< 1 ha land) compared to those practicing conventional agriculture, regardless of whether the profitability is measured on a per land unit or per household basis. The annual farmers household net income increased from 2007 to 2014, however, the farm income of small-scale farmers only makes up a minor part of total household income and its percentage becomes less and less over time. For medium-scale organic farmers (> 1 ha land), the proportion of income from farming was higher (56% in 2007 and 77% in 2014), leading to average farm incomes of USD16,108 in 2014. Among organic farmers, cooperatives members performed better economically than those not in cooperatives. Organic agriculture can ensure stable and sustainable alternative livelihoods, especially in a situation where available land offers opportunities for scaling up.

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 2009

Naar Journal, 2018

This paper analyses and compare the both country's organic farming in order to give an overview for developing countries. Recent years the chemical input in land will cause issues and reduce the yield. This study compares the chemical input level in agriculture sector, on the other hand the opportunity to reduce the chemical input is organic farming. The acceptance level of organic farming by farmers and producers gives wide range of research ideas in future for the development of sustainable agriculture in China and India. A deep insight was sought from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture that makes various publications on global state of organic farming. This research is a comparative study that is restricted to organic farming which has analyses the input level of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and the acceptance level of organic farming to reduce the chemical consumption in agriculture and way forward to sustainable development.

AGRI-FOOD XIV, 2007

Organic food has been described as the world’s fastest growing food sector, and many countries have now set targets for conversion to Organic Agriculture. The stated goal of the organic movement is the adoption worldwide of Organic Agriculture. That task has a long path to travel, with Organic Agriculture currently accounting for 1.8% of worldwide agricultural land. One strategy for success in any endeavour, is: find out who "the winners” are, identify what they are doing, and do that; and there is a corollary to this maxim. Which countries are leaders in the adoption of Organic Agriculture? In the absence of a single comprehensive index of organic-ness, this paper identifies 12 indices of organic-ness, and presents the leadership by country, for each of these indices. A portmanteau-index of overall organics leadership is examined. Based on longitudinal data, projections are presented for future Organic Agriculture scenarios, and they indicate that under the historic worldwide rates of organic uptake, then all agricultural land would be converted to organic within 27 years under the scenario of compound increase, and in 584 years under the scenario of arithmetic increase.

Universitas Bakrie Press, 2020

Soca : Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian, 2023

i02.p06. INTRODUCTION Kota Batu, located in East Java, stands as a prominent area for the advancement of organic farming. This progress is backed by the city's medium-term development policy, which emphasizes sustainable agricultural development. Over the past decade, the City Government of Kota Batu, in collaboration with relevant agencies, has successfully implemented the "Batu Go Organic" program through a pilot project. Furthermore, there has been a noteworthy increase in the availability of outlets for organic farming products, including supermarkets, restaurants, organic enthusiasts' organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and Organic Certification Institutions (Kementan-RI, 2016). The "Batu Go Organic" program faces several challenges that encompass cultivation activities, production facilities, and marketing. In terms of cultivation activities, there is a concern regarding the limited extent of organic farming land and the persisting issue of high pollution resulting from the use of conventional farming chemicals. The production facilities for organic farming encounter delays in the distribution of necessary equipment, organic fertilizers, and the availability of organic pesticides, which are often limited in supply. Furthermore, the marketing of organic farming products presents a range of obstacles, including a restricted network for reaching potential consumers, the absence of dedicated venues for organic products, insufficient capital, a lack of product innovation and packaging design, intensified competition concerning both quality and quantity, and challenges related to pricing, particularly in comparison to imported products. To address the challenges and potential of implementing the "Batu Go Organic" program in Kota Batu, a comprehensive scientific research study is warranted. This study draws upon previous national and international research on organic farming as a foundation for designing the research and establishing its objectives. Extensive literature review reveals that organic farming is widely acknowledged as a viable solution for ensuring the availability of healthy food in the future (Muller et al., 2017; Rahmann et al., 2017; Tal, 2018). Research conducted in various countries has examined and explored a diverse range of organic food products, spanning from production to marketing, such as organic vegetables, eggs, and rice (