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How Can Cooperatives Drive Small-Scale Farmers to Achieve a “Carbon Reduction Effect” in the Planting Industry: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Hong Zhang

    (School of Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing 100070, China)

  • Fulin Wei

    (School of Labor Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing 100070, China)

  • Jixiang Lai

    (Agricultural Engineering Information Institute, Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, Beijing 100125, China
    Key Laboratory of Technology and Model for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural, Beijing 100125, China)

  • Han Xiao

    (Agricultural Engineering Information Institute, Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, Beijing 100125, China
    Key Laboratory of Technology and Model for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural, Beijing 100125, China)

  • Kuan Li

    (Agricultural Engineering Information Institute, Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, Beijing 100125, China
    Key Laboratory of Technology and Model for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural, Beijing 100125, China)

Abstract

China is vigorously promoting agricultural energy conservation and carbon reduction and accelerating the transformation of traditional agriculture towards green development, which is a key measure adopted by the Chinese government to advance agricultural modernization. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China spanning 2006–2023, this paper systematically studies the impact of agricultural cooperatives driving small-scale farmers on carbon emissions in the planting industry by comprehensively applying linear regression, mediating effect, threshold effect, and spatial econometric models. Studies show that cooperatives have significantly reduced carbon emissions for small-scale farmers, with a stable “carbon reduction effect”, and this effect is most obvious in the eastern region, presenting a regional gradient characteristic of “east > central > west”. The differences between major grain-producing areas and non-major grain-producing areas are relatively small, indicating that their emission reduction effect has wide applicability. Mechanism analysis indicates that improvements in agricultural technology and rural land transfers are key pathways to achieving emissions reductions. Further findings reveal that exemplary cooperatives have a dual threshold effect: they may initially experience a short-term “carbon increase effect”, but as the organization matures, it turns into a significant “emission reduction”. In addition, the development of cooperatives in this region has a positive spillover effect on the carbon emissions of the planting industry in the surrounding areas. This study makes up for the deficiency of the existing literature in the mechanism of “organization-driven individual” promoting agricultural green transformation; it reveals the path of cooperatives promoting low-carbon agriculture through technological promotion and land integration, enriches the theoretical system of agricultural green transformation, and provides replicable practical references for developing countries to promote energy conservation and carbon reduction in agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong Zhang & Fulin Wei & Jixiang Lai & Han Xiao & Kuan Li, 2025. "How Can Cooperatives Drive Small-Scale Farmers to Achieve a “Carbon Reduction Effect” in the Planting Industry: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8479-:d:1754800
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Metcalf, Gilbert E. & Reilly, John M., 2008. "Policy Options form Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Implications for Agriculture," Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 23(01), pages 1-4.
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