IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v15y2025i2p166-d1566206.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Can the Protection of Important Agricultural Heritage Sites Contribute to the Green Development of Agriculture: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Li Mo

    (College of Marxism, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China)

  • Song Chen

    (College of Marxism, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China)

  • Shenwei Wan

    (School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Lei Zhou

    (School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Shiyuan Wang

    (School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

Abstract

The protection of agricultural heritage sites has become a global human responsibility and consensus. However, the potential effect of agricultural heritage sites on the green development of agriculture has currently been ignored. Since ancient times, China has been founded on agriculture, and the number of important agricultural cultural heritages ranks first in the world, with strong representativeness. The two-way fixed effects model was employed to empirically test the positive impact of agricultural heritage site protection on the green development of agriculture, utilising data from 30 provincial units in China over a 21-year period from 2001 to 2021 in this paper. Additionally, a mediating effect model was used to test the potential mechanism. The specific conclusions are as follows: firstly, the protection of agricultural heritage sites has a significant positive effect on the green development of agriculture; secondly, the protection of agricultural heritage sites can advance the agricultural industrial structure, increase the land transfer rate, strengthen the construction of new agricultural management organisations, enhance financial investment in supporting, and promote green technology innovation. The five paths were found to have passed the mediation effect test. Thirdly, the positive effect of protecting agricultural heritage sites on the green development of agriculture is heterogeneous. Specifically, the effect is more pronounced in the eastern and central regions, particularly in areas with higher levels of AI development and lower urbanisation. The ultimate objective is to utilise evidence from China to develop nature-based solutions for the protection and utilisation of agricultural heritage and green development of agriculture in other world agricultural heritage sites.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Mo & Song Chen & Shenwei Wan & Lei Zhou & Shiyuan Wang, 2025. "How Can the Protection of Important Agricultural Heritage Sites Contribute to the Green Development of Agriculture: Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:2:p:166-:d:1566206
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/2/166/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/2/166/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Han Zhang & Dongli Wu, 2023. "The Impact of Rural Industrial Integration on Agricultural Green Productivity Based on the Contract Choice Perspective of Farmers," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Jingyi Li & Jiaxin He & Lun Yang & Qingwen Min, 2023. "Does the Identification of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems Promote Economic Growth? Empirical Analysis Based on County Data from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Ana Iglesias & Berta Sánchez & Luis Garrote & Iván López, 2017. "Towards Adaptation to Climate Change: Water for Rice in the Coastal Wetlands of Doñana, Southern Spain," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(2), pages 629-653, January.
    4. Shen, Zhiyang & Wang, Songkai & Boussemart, Jean-Philippe & Hao, Yu, 2022. "Digital transition and green growth in Chinese agriculture," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    5. Yunsi Chen & Sumin Hu & Haoqiang Wu, 2023. "The Digital Economy, Green Technology Innovation, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Sirimanna, S. & Kahathuduwa, K.K.P.N. & Prasada, D.V.P., 2022. "Are cascade reservoir systems sustainable agroecosystems? A comparative assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and resource footprint in a Sri Lankan micro-cascade," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    7. Xiaopiao Yang & Yuluan Zhao & Jia Zhao & Chao Shi & Bailu Deng, 2022. "Tourists’ Perceived Attitudes toward the Famous Terraced Agricultural Cultural Heritage Landscape in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-13, September.
    8. Jinkuan Yu & Yao Sun & Feng Wei, 2024. "Green Development of Chinese Agriculture from the Perspective of Bidirectional Correlation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, September.
    9. Jelena Vapa Tankosić & Svetlana Ignjatijević & Nemanja Lekić & Nataša Kljajić & Miloš Ivaniš & Slobodan Andžić & Dejan Ristić, 2023. "The Role of Environmental Attitudes and Risk for Adoption with Respect to Farmers’ Participation in the Agri-Environmental Practices," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, December.
    10. Narducci, Jenna & Quintas-Soriano, Cristina & Castro, Antonio & Som-Castellano, Rebecca & Brandt, Jodi S., 2019. "Implications of urban growth and farmland loss for ecosystem services in the western United States," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-11.
    11. Yuan, Xiao & Zhang, Jinlong & Shi, Jing & Wang, Jiachen, 2024. "What can green finance do for high-quality agricultural development? Fresh insights from China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    12. L. F. Schulte-Uebbing & A. H. W. Beusen & A. F. Bouwman & W. de Vries, 2022. "From planetary to regional boundaries for agricultural nitrogen pollution," Nature, Nature, vol. 610(7932), pages 507-512, October.
    13. Song, Malin & Fisher, Ron & Kwoh, Yusen, 2019. "Technological challenges of green innovation and sustainable resource management with large scale data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 361-368.
    14. Qi Jiang & Jizhi Li & Hongyun Si & Yangyue Su, 2022. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on Agricultural Green Development: Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-22, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anzhu Xue & Guang Yang & Hui Wang, 2025. "The Impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) on the Green Development of Listed Companies in China’s Agricultural and Forestry Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-26, May.
    2. Fanghui Pan & Haonan Deng & Miao Chen & Lijuan Zhao & Wei Qian & Xiangrong Wan, 2024. "Spatial–Temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Agricultural Green Development in China: Evidence from Panel Quantile Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Jiajia Meng & Baoyu Zhao & Yuxiao Song & Xiaomei Lin, 2024. "Research on the Spatial Dynamic Evolution of Digital Agriculture—Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Hui Yang & Jingye Li & Stefan Sieber & Kaisheng Long, 2025. "Does Digital Village Construction Affect the Sustainable Intensification of Cultivated Land Use? Evidence from Rural China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-24, April.
    5. Zhao, Jun & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Dong, Kangyin, 2022. "How does energy poverty eradication promote green growth in China? The role of technological innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    6. Wang, Jingyu & Peng, Lu & Chen, Jiancheng & Deng, Xiangzheng, 2024. "Impact of rural industrial integration on farmers' income: Evidence from agricultural counties in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    7. Shenhua Liu & Deheng Xiao, 2024. "Can Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone Promote Low-Carbon Urban Development? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
    8. Senhua Huang & Lingming Chen, 2023. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on the Urban Total-Factor Energy Efficiency: Evidence from 275 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    9. Viet Ha Trinh Thi & Wenqi Zhou, 2024. "A Systematic Analysis of the Development of Agricultural Modernization and Its Effect on Crop Production in Northeastern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-12, June.
    10. Mengjie Tian & Mingyong Hong & Ji Wang, 2023. "Land resources, market-oriented reform and high-quality agricultural development," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4165-4197, December.
    11. Yang, Changjin & Qi, Huarui & Jia, Lijun & Wang, Yanjiao & Huang, Dan, 2024. "Impact of digital technologies and financial development on green growth: Role of mineral resources, institutional quality, and human development in South Asia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    12. Xiaolong Shi & Yu Cheng & Jianing Zhang & Yue Zhang & Lijie Wei & Yaping Wang, 2025. "Impacts of the Urban Form Structure on Carbon Emission Efficiency in China’s Three Major Urban Agglomerations: A Study from an Urban Economic Activities Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-23, April.
    13. Xuan Liu & Xuexi Huo, 2024. "Green Finance, Land Transfer and China’s Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Song, Yanwu & Zhang, Jinrui & Song, Yingkang & Fan, Xinran & Zhu, Yuqing & Zhang, Chen, 2020. "Can industry-university-research collaborative innovation efficiency reduce carbon emissions?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    15. Wei Yu & Huiqin Huang & Xinyan Kong & Keying Zhu, 2023. "Can Digital Inclusive Finance Improve the Financial Performance of SMEs?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.
    16. Weihua Su & Yuying Wang & Dalia Streimikiene & Tomas Balezentis & Chonghui Zhang, 2020. "Carbon dioxide emission decomposition along the gradient of economic development: The case of energy sustainability in the G7 and Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 657-669, July.
    17. Weerahewa, Jeevika & Dayananda, Dasuni, 2023. "Land use changes and economic effects of alternative fertilizer policies: A simulation analysis with a bio-economic model for a Tank Village of Sri Lanka," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    18. Yu Zhang & Xiaomeng Liu & Jiaoping Yang, 2024. "Digital Economy, Green Dual Innovation and Carbon Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-26, August.
    19. Lixin Zhou & Caiping Qu & Li Zhi, 2024. "Research on the Impact of Digital Infrastructure on Urban Breakthrough Green Innovation: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-22, November.
    20. Huang, Hongyun & Mbanyele, William & Wang, Fengrong & Song, Malin & Wang, Yuzhang, 2022. "Climbing the quality ladder of green innovation: Does green finance matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:2:p:166-:d:1566206. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.