IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i12p5543-d1680166.html

Can the Development of Green Fertilizers by Science and Technology Backyards Promote Green Production by Farmers? An Evolutionary Game Analysis of a Tripartite Interaction

Author

Listed:
  • Yanhu Bai

    (Business College, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325006, China)

  • Yuchao Wang

    (Business College, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325006, China)

  • Jianli Luo

    (Business College, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325006, China)

  • Luyao Chang

    (Business College, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325006, China)

Abstract

The research and application of green fertilizers have long been constrained by financial and technical barriers. Farmers’ adoption of green fertilizers is also highly dependent on government policy support. As an intermediary organization bridging the government and farmers, the STB plays a crucial role in encouraging the use of green fertilizers. In order to explore the impact of the STB’s research and development investment, as well as government intervention on farmers’ green production behavior, this paper constructs a tripartite dynamic game model involving farmers, the STB, and the government. The study systematically analyzes the decision-making mechanisms of the different stakeholders and their evolutionary paths. The results show the following: (1) Under certain conditions, the system converges to two stable states: government withdrawal (1,1,0) and continued government participation (1,1,1). (2) Government intervention shows a phased decrease. As the green fertilizer production system matures, farmers and the STB gradually form a stable collaborative mechanism. At this stage, the government shifts from direct participation to a supervisory role, with its implementation coefficient increasing to between 0.75 and 1, indicating that government supervision becomes the primary mode of action. (3) The research and development efforts of the STB are influenced by both the intensity of government support and technological breakthroughs. During periods of high-intensity government support (with a research and development investment coefficient between 0.05 and 0.15), and when technological accumulation achieves a critical breakthrough, the growth rate of investment increases significantly (the coefficient jumps to 0.15–0.3). (4) Farmers’ demand for green fertilizers is stable and consistent, and the market-oriented collaboration between the STB and farmers tends to favor green production technology, which verifies the feasibility of the government’s withdrawal of functions in the later stage of the green agricultural transformation. This study provides a scientific basis for decision-making regarding the STB’s research and development of green fertilizers, while also laying a theoretical foundation for promoting the green transformation of farmers through green fertilizer innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanhu Bai & Yuchao Wang & Jianli Luo & Luyao Chang, 2025. "Can the Development of Green Fertilizers by Science and Technology Backyards Promote Green Production by Farmers? An Evolutionary Game Analysis of a Tripartite Interaction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-30, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5543-:d:1680166
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5543/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5543/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiabin Xu & Tianyi Wang & Jingjing Wang & Cuixia Li & Limei Zhao, 2022. "“Forced Transformation” or “Regulation Capture”—Research on the Interactive Mechanism between Environmental Regulation and Green Transformation of Dairy Farming Subject Production," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Barbier, Edward B., 2025. "Greening agriculture for rural development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. An, Jin & He, Guiqian & Ge, Shilong & Wu, Shanshan, 2025. "The impact of government green subsidies on corporate green innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    4. Anna Nowak & Armand Kasztelan, 2022. "Economic competitiveness vs. green competitiveness of agriculture in the European Union countries," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(2), pages 379-405, June.
    5. Weifeng Zhang & Guoxin Cao & Xiaolin Li & Hongyan Zhang & Chong Wang & Quanqing Liu & Xinping Chen & Zhenling Cui & Jianbo Shen & Rongfeng Jiang & Guohua Mi & Yuxin Miao & Fusuo Zhang & Zhengxia Dou, 2016. "Closing yield gaps in China by empowering smallholder farmers," Nature, Nature, vol. 537(7622), pages 671-674, September.
    6. Marcelo Werneck Barbosa, 2024. "Government Support Mechanisms for Sustainable Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Dalin Zhang & Feng Dong & Zhicheng Li & Sulan Xu, 2025. "How Can Farmers’ Green Production Behavior Be Promoted? A Literature Review of Drivers and Incentives for Behavioral Change," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-20, March.
    8. Bowei Li & Yanjun Qian & Fanbin Kong, 2023. "Does Outsourcing Service Reduce the Excessive Use of Chemical Fertilizers in Rural China? The Moderating Effects of Farm Size and Plot Size," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, September.
    9. Johannes Dahlin & Verena Halbherr & Peter Kurz & Michael Nelles & Carsten Herbes, 2016. "Marketing Green Fertilizers: Insights into Consumer Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-15, November.
    10. Min Wan & Haibo Kuang & Yanbo Yang & Bi He & Sue Zhao & Ying Wang & Jingyi Huo, 2023. "Evaluation of Agricultural Green Development Based on Gini Coefficient and Hesitation Fuzzy Multi-Attribute Decision-Making: The Case of China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.
    11. Yangyang Li & Jianing Sun & Juan Chen & Jinlei Li & Li Sun & Kewang Cao, 2024. "How to Promote the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries from an Evolutionary Game Perspective: Policy Mechanisms for Certification + Incentives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-38, May.
    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. Ali Raza & Lu Hongliang & Zhu Yue & Tingyu Yang & Nian Wei, 2025. "Environmental regulations and eco-innovation as catalysts for green agricultural practices: insights from Pakistan–China agricultural cooperation," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 13(1), pages 1-32, December.
    2. Zhuoyi Zhou & Aifeng Ning, 2025. "The Impact of Social Capital on Farmers’ Green Production Behavior: Moderation Effects Based on Agricultural Support and Protection Subsidies," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-21, October.
    3. repec:zib:zbmbmj:v:2:y:2023:i:2:p:114-123 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Bożena Nosecka & Łukasz Zaremba, 2025. "The International Competitiveness of Polish Fruit and Their Preserves," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Ivana Kravčáková Vozárová & Rastislav Kotulič, 2024. "The Impact of EU Subsidies on the Competitiveness of Slovak Farms from the Perspective of Legal Form," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, August.
    6. Zheng, Ye & Bao, Xuhan & Zhao, Shijie, 2025. "Renewable energy policy and environmental governance performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    7. Christodoulos Savva & Christos Koidis & Charisios Achillas & Christos Mertzanakis & Dimitrios-Aristotelis Koumpakis & Alexandra V. Michailidou & Christos Vlachokostas, 2025. "User-Friendly, Real-Time LCA Tool for Dynamic Sustainability Assessment and Support of EPD Schemes Towards Circular Bioenergy Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Xiaoqing Dong & Guangshun Cheng & Yuan Ren, 2025. "Going Green on the Government’s Dime: Unpacking the Subsidy Boost in Family Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-25, May.
    9. Francesco De Pascale & Eleonora Guadagno, 2025. "Climate Change and High-Quality Agri-Food Production: Perceptions of Risk and Adaptation Strategies in the Calabria Region (Southern Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-23, April.
    10. Li, Qiang & Jiang, Wanting & Gao, Wei & Lyu, Junxiao, 2025. "How to build a framework for soil health of cultivated land assessment and monitoring: Insights from the perspective of government assistance to smallholders," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    11. Yuewen Huo & Songlin Ye & Zhou Wu & Fusuo Zhang & Guohua Mi, 2022. "Barriers to the Development of Agricultural Mechanization in the North and Northeast China Plains: A Farmer Survey," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, February.
    12. Ivana Kravčáková Vozárová & Roman Vavrek & Peter Adamišin & Rastislav Kotulič, 2023. "Composite Analysis of Competitiveness: Case Study of Companies Working the Soil in the Slovak Republic," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.
    13. Zhang, Bangbang & Li, Xian & Chen, Haibin & Niu, Wenhao & Kong, Xiangbin & Yu, Qiang & Zhao, Minjuan & Xia, Xianli, 2022. "Identifying opportunities to close yield gaps in China by use of certificated cultivars to estimate potential productivity," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    14. Hampf, Anna C. & Carauta, Marcelo & Latynskiy, Evgeny & Libera, Affonso A.D. & Monteiro, Leonardo & Sentelhas, Paulo & Troost, Christian & Berger, Thomas & Nendel, Claas, 2018. "The biophysical and socio-economic dimension of yield gaps in the southern Amazon – A bio-economic modelling approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1-13.
    15. Feng Zhou & Chunhui Wen, 2023. "Research on the Level of Agricultural Green Development, Regional Disparities, and Dynamic Distribution Evolution in China from the Perspective of Sustainable Development," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-47, July.
    16. Dávid Nagy & Péter Balogh & Zoltán Gabnai & József Popp & Judit Oláh & Attila Bai, 2018. "Economic Analysis of Pellet Production in Co-Digestion Biogas Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-21, May.
    17. Xiukang Wang, 2022. "Managing Land Carrying Capacity: Key to Achieving Sustainable Production Systems for Food Security," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, March.
    18. Jingwei Zeng & Tao Huang & Xia Wu & Tengfang Liu, 2025. "Authentic or spurious: an evolutionary game analysis of manufacturing enterprises’ greenwashing behavior under dynamic government regulation," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    19. Marcelo Werneck Barbosa & Paulo Renato de Sousa & Marcelo Bronzo, 2026. "Government Support, Collaboration, and the Circular Economy: Impacts on ESG Performance and Firm Reputation," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(2), pages 534-552, April.
    20. Chengze Li & Dianwei Zhang & Qian Lu & Jiajing Wei & Qingsong Zhang, 2024. "Production Process Outsourcing, Farmers’ Operation Capability, and Income-Enhancing Effects," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, August.
    21. Cundeng Wang & Xiyuan Chen & Zhiyuan Jiao & Shuang Song & Zhen Ma, 2025. "An Improved YOLOP Lane-Line Detection Utilizing Feature Shift Aggregation for Intelligent Agricultural Machinery," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5543-:d:1680166. 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 The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (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.