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Agricultural Eco-Efficiency: Challenges and Progress

Author

Listed:
  • Guofeng Wang

    (Faculty of International Trade, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Rui Shi

    (Faculty of International Trade, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Lingchen Mi

    (Faculty of International Trade, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Jinmiao Hu

    (Faculty of International Trade, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

Abstract

The research on agricultural eco-efficiency has become an important point to deeply understand the interaction between ecological and environmental conditions and socio-economic factors as well as realize the coordinated development of agricultural economic development and environmental protection. (1) Background: This paper attempts to provide scientific support for the healthy and stable development of the agricultural economy and the sustainable development of ecological agriculture. (2) Methods: From a comprehensive perspective, this paper systematically analyze the overall situation, development trend, key fields, and hot fields of agricultural eco-efficiency in the past two decades. It consists of two complementary parts, including systematic quantitative literature review (based on CiteSpace) and traditional literature review. (3) Results: Agricultural eco-efficiency has evolved significantly with the popularization of agricultural machinery and the wide application of science and technology in the field of agricultural ecology. Its future development relies on the advances in our knowledge on theories and hypothesis, evaluation methods, impact on “socio-economic ecological” system, and drivers and regulation of agricultural eco-efficiency. For each of these fields, we find that challenges still exist. At present, the quantitative methods and index selection are not unified. We should deeply analyze the internal and external driving force of the development and change of ecological efficiency by constructing a complete theoretical framework for the research of agricultural ecological efficiency. At the same time, new technologies and methods are needed to evaluate agricultural eco-efficiency, and a balanced consensus between the improvement of agricultural eco-efficiency and the improvement of the ecological environment should be formed through empirical research.

Suggested Citation

  • Guofeng Wang & Rui Shi & Lingchen Mi & Jinmiao Hu, 2022. "Agricultural Eco-Efficiency: Challenges and Progress," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1051-:d:727025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aleksander Grzelak & Jakub Staniszewski & Michał Borychowski, 2020. "Income or Assets—What Determines the Approach to the Environment among Farmers in A Region in Poland?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    2. Liu, Yansui & Zou, Lilin & Wang, Yongsheng, 2020. "Spatial-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of agricultural eco-efficiency in China in recent 40 years," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    3. Deng, Xiangzheng & Gibson, John, 2019. "Improving eco-efficiency for the sustainable agricultural production: A case study in Shandong, China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 394-400.
    4. Marlena Gołaś & Piotr Sulewski & Adam Wąs & Anna Kłoczko-Gajewska & Kinga Pogodzińska, 2020. "On the Way to Sustainable Agriculture—Eco-Efficiency of Polish Commercial Farms," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-24, September.
    5. Jiaxing Pang & Xingpeng Chen & Zilong Zhang & Hengji Li, 2016. "Measuring Eco-Efficiency of Agriculture in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-15, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mingming Li & Marko Milojevic & Dmitry Gura, 2024. "Development of methodology for evaluating sustainable rural development," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 21237-21257, August.
    3. Gesevičienė, Kristina & Besusparienė, Erika, . "Modelling Lithuanian family farms’ participation in agri-environmental subsidy schemes: a Neural Network Approach," Economia Agraria y Recursos Naturales, Spanish Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 23(02).
    4. Yanxin Hu & Xiang Li, 2026. "The effects of industrial agglomeration on ecological efficiency in China: evidence from manufacturing industry panel data," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 10185-10218, April.
    5. Lu, Man & Bai, Heju & Wu, Yiming, 2024. "Anti-corruption, credit supply, and agricultural economic development," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    6. Deaconu Elena-Mădălina & Pătărlăgeanu Simona Roxana & Petrescu Irina-Elena & Dinu Mihai & Sandu Andrei, 2023. "An Outline of the Links between the Sustainable Development Goals and the Transformative Elements of Formulating a Fair Agri-Food Trade Policy – A Measurable EU Achievement," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 1449-1462, July.

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