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Farm size and greenhouse gas emission: Do large farms in China produce more emissions?

Author

Listed:
  • Zhe Zhao

    (School of Economics, Liaoning University, Shenyang, P. R. China)

  • Fan Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China)

  • Yiqiong Du

    (Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P. R. China)

  • Xin Xuan

    (School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, P. R. China)

  • Ying Cai

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China)

  • Gui Jin

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, P. R. China)

Abstract

Farms are key to agricultural advancement and carbon emission reduction. Understanding the influence of farm size on emissions is vital for eco-friendly farming. Our study used an econometric model with instrumental variable adjustments to examine the effect of farm size on greenhouse gas emissions, revealing an inverted U-shaped relationship. The findings revealed that emissions increased with farm size until a peak and then decreased. We identified an optimal farm size range (0.45 km 2 to 0.58 km 2 ) for lower emissions, where the farm size maintaining the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per unit area was 0.58 km 2 , while the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per capita occured at a farm size of 0.69 km 2 . Reducing emissions intensity per unit area is easier than reducing GHG emissions per person. Policymakers should prioritise promoting the expansion to moderately sized farms as a means of achieving emission reduction targets rather than solely increasing the number of farms. Overall, these insights offer policymakers novel approaches for ecological farm planning and the transition toward a low-carbon agriculture sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhe Zhao & Fan Zhang & Yiqiong Du & Xin Xuan & Ying Cai & Gui Jin, 2024. "Farm size and greenhouse gas emission: Do large farms in China produce more emissions?," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(3), pages 112-124.
    • Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:70:y:2024:i:3:id:307-2023-agricecon
    DOI: 10.17221/307/2023-AGRICECON
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Laborde & Abdullah Mamun & Will Martin & Valeria Piñeiro & Rob Vos, 2021. "Agricultural subsidies and global greenhouse gas emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Hu, Wei & Fan, Yuemin, 2020. "City size and energy conservation: Do large cities in China consume more energy?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
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