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Contradictions in state- and civil society-driven developments in China’s ecological agriculture sector

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  • Scott, Steffanie
  • Si, Zhenzhong
  • Schumilas, Theresa
  • Chen, Aijuan

Abstract

Considering certified organic production as ‘zero’ (including the absence of genetically modified seeds and feed, and synthetic pesticides and fertilizers as inputs), we outline how, since the 1990s, China has developed a unique system of progressively stringent food quality production standards—‘hazard-free’, ‘green food’, and organic—on its purported path to zero ecological impact and zero food safety risk. We describe the structures and institutions that perform these standards and their inclusion in, and impacts on, China’s agricultural sector, which is characterized by a polarization between widespread smallholder production and emerging consolidated entrepreneurial farm enterprises branded as ecological. Based on 95 key informant interviews conducted between 2010 and 2012, we discuss the contradictions within state- and civil society-led paths to zero. We argue that the government’s commitment to ecological agriculture is superficial. Due in part to the context of a state-driven yet market-oriented economy with limited civil society involvement, the system of extensive standards has not been clearly communicated to Chinese consumers. Nor has it garnered public trust in the food system, as evidenced by a rapidly expanding ‘alternative’ food sector, including community supported agriculture (CSA) ventures and home delivery schemes, many of which are based on producers and consumers negotiating trust rather than relying on the quality assurance of certification. But consumers are motivated by seeking zero food safety risk, and show limited concern about environmental protection or farmer livelihoods. Some exceptions are patrons of values-oriented CSAs, farmers’ markets, and buying clubs, which point to interesting trajectories for the future of China’s food system.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott, Steffanie & Si, Zhenzhong & Schumilas, Theresa & Chen, Aijuan, 2014. "Contradictions in state- and civil society-driven developments in China’s ecological agriculture sector," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 158-166.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:45:y:2014:i:c:p:158-166
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2013.08.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonja Brodt & Gail Feenstra & Robin Kozloff & Karen Klonsky & Laura Tourte, 2006. "Farmer-Community Connections and the Future of Ecological Agriculture in California," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 23(1), pages 75-88, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Leigh Martindale, 2021. "‘I will know it when I taste it’: trust, food materialities and social media in Chinese alternative food networks," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(2), pages 365-380, June.
    2. Kees Krul & Peter Ho, 2017. "Alternative Approaches to Food: Community Supported Agriculture in Urban China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Ruifeng Liu & Zhifeng Gao & Gongan Yan & Hengyun Ma, 2018. "Why Should We Protect the Interests of “Green Food” Certified Product Growers? Evidence from Kiwifruit Production in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Wu, Xiang & Xiong, Jie & Li, Haitao & Wu, Han, 2019. "The myth of retail pricing policy for developing organic vegetable markets," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 8-13.
    5. Li, Kai & Zhou, Jie-hong & Liang, Qiao & Huang, Zuhui, 2015. "Food safety controls and governance structure varieties in China's vegetable and fruit sector," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212046, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Zhenzhong Si & Theresa Schumilas & Steffanie Scott, 2015. "Characterizing alternative food networks in China," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(2), pages 299-313, June.
    7. Zhen, Huayang & Gao, Wenzeng & Yuan, Kai & Ju, Xuehai & Qiao, Yuhui, 2021. "Internalizing externalities through net ecosystem service analysis–A case study of greenhouse vegetable farms in Beijing," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    8. Zhao, Yue & Rogers, Sarah, 2024. "Tracing China’s agrochemical complex," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    9. Wilson, Norbert L.W. & Worosz, Michelle R., 2014. "Zero tolerance rules in food safety and quality," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 112-115.
    10. Sizhong Sun & Sajid Anwar, 2018. "Product innovation in China’s food processing industries," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 42(3), pages 492-507, July.
    11. Kumar, Prashant & Polonsky, Micheal Jay, 2019. "In-store experience quality and perceived credibility: A green retailer context," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 23-34.
    12. Taiyang Zhong & Zhenzhong Si & Jonathan Crush & Steffanie Scott & Xianjin Huang, 2019. "Achieving urban food security through a hybrid public-private food provisioning system: the case of Nanjing, China," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(5), pages 1071-1086, October.
    13. Ruifeng Liu & Zhifeng Gao & Rodolfo M. Nayga & Lijia Shi & Les Oxley & Hengyun Ma, 2020. "Can “green food” certification achieve both sustainable practices and economic benefits in a transitional economy? The case of kiwifruit growers in Henan Province, China," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(4), pages 675-692, October.
    14. Mindi Schneider, 2015. "What, then, is a Chinese peasant? Nongmin discourses and agroindustrialization in contemporary China," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(2), pages 331-346, June.

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